EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE- Things You Should Know

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a dreaded viral disease and the first case of the virus was recorded in 1976 in Zaire which was where it got its first name, Zaire Ebola Virus and out of the 318 persons that got hit by the virus only 38 lived to tell the story. Today, it is spreading like a wild fire in Africa and we all need to watch it.

Symptoms

      The early symptoms of Ebola virus disease could be a bit difficult to notice because they are similar to other viral infections. Here are the common symptoms:

• Elevation in temperature 
• Fatigue
• Chills
• Dry and persistent cough 
• Sore throat 
• Crippling headaches
• Chest, Joint and muscle pain
• Lack of appetite

    Complications

• Severe vomiting
• Diarrhoea 
• Stomach pain 
• Sudden Rash
• Internal and external bleeding – which could be from the eyes, nose, ears, mouth or anus

Mode of transmission

      EBOV is transmitted through;

• Direct contact with blood and other body fluids (saliva, urine, semen, sweat) of infected persons or animals.
• Direct contact with contaminated medical equipment such as needles.
• Eating the meat of infected animals like bats, rats and monkeys.

Prevention

      EVD is a killer disease and the only known cure now is prevention. Here are a few preventive measures: 

• Wash your hands regularly and properly. Buy hand sanitizers and always carry it with you.
• Mortuary attenders should avoid contacts with corpses of Ebola patients and they should not embalm their corpses.
• Don’t eat meats of sketchy sources.
• Persons who have recovered from the disease should confirm from their doctor when they could have sex with their partner. Ebola virus is carried in the semen.

The Nigeria Federal Ministry of Health have given out some numbers we could contact them with if we notice anyone with a possible EBOV infection... I know what’s on your mind now but don’t mind the Nigerian system. This was why, out of anger, a friend said that the country will keep descending into more and more orgy of underdevelopment if we keep allowing situations to get out of hand and then applying the ‘fire-brigade approach’- the rise and rise of Boko Haram is a typical example.

Here are the contacts;

08023310923

08097979595

(Text messages only)

ebolainfohealth.gov.ng

P.S- please report all cases to them and help rid our society of this monster. Remember it takes two hands to get a clap.