Ebola Virus Alert

Ebola Virus Alert

Treatment

- There are no FDA approved vaccine or medicine

However, the symptoms can be treated
  • Intravenous fluids
  • Balancing electrolytes (body salts)
  • Oxygen
  • Blood pressure medication
  • Blood transfusions

Prevention

  • Wash your hands properly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Avoid contact with:
  • blood and bodily fluids
  • the bodies of people who died from Ebola during the funeral and burial rituals
  • hospitals where EVD patients are being treated
  • bats and non-human primates or the blood,   fluids and the raw meat prepared from these animals 

For Healthcare workers exposed to Ebola Virus affected patients  
  • Wear protective clothing (gloves, gowns, mask, eye protection, etc.)
  • Practice proper infection control and sterilization measures
  • Isolate EVD patients from other patients
  • Notify health officials if you had direct contact with the body, blood or bodily fluids of a person infected with EVD

Did you know?

  • EVD cannot be spread through the air, water or normally by food
  • Humans are not infectious until they develop symptoms
  • 50-90% of people infected with EVD die
  • People who recover from EVD develop antibodies that last at least 10 years
  • EVD has been found in sperm up to 3 months after recovery, so abstain from sex or use a condom for 3 months after recovery


Where did the Ebola Virus come from?

In 1976, the EVD appeared simultaneously in Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku, Democratic Republic of the Congo. The disease was named after the Ebola River located nearby the Yambuku village.

In December 2013, the first known case of EVD was found in Guinea. However, by March 23rd, 2014the World Health Organization (WHO) was officially notified that the disease was rapidly evolving and spreading throughout West Africa.

Current countries affected: 

- Guinea           - Sierra Leone          - Liberia

- Nigeria          - Senegal                    - USA

How is the Ebola Virus spread?

Direct contact with:
  • infected animals (bats, monkeys, etc.) especially while handling and butchering wild meat
  • blood or bodily fluids (urine, sweat, saliva, faeces, breast milk, semen, etc.) of people infected with EVD
  • contaminated objects (needles and syringes)

Symptoms appear within 2 to 21 days of exposure to the Ebola Virus, but the average is 8 to 10 days

Signs and Symptoms

Early stages: - Sudden fever (38.6°C or 101.5°F)
  1. Severe headache
  2. Muscle and joint pain
  3. Sore throat
  4. Intense weakness
  5. Lack of appetite

Followed by: 
  1. Vomiting
  2. Diarrhea
  3. Skin rash
  4. Stomach pain
  5. Impaired liver and kidney function
  6. In some cases: - Internal and external bleeding
  7. Unexplained bruising
  8. Red eyes
  9. Hiccups

For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov or www.who.int
Ebola Virus Alert