Dome Blog: HOW CAN THE PUBLIC PREVENT THE SPREAD OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY?

Ebola Virus Disease is an infectious disease affecting humans and animals such as monkeys, gorillas, Chimpanzees, bats, antelopes, etc. Ebola virus disease is transmitted to a person when he/she comes in contact with the blood or secretions of an infected animal or human (dead or alive).

Ebola Virus Disease is a virulent killer, there are no specific treatments or vaccine for Ebola virus disease and it occurs in sporadic outbreak. It takes between 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus for someone to feel sick and show the signs and symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease.

Signs and Symptoms

Early symptoms of Ebola virus disease include sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headaches, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, red eyes, hiccups, chest pains, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, impaired kidney and liver function, internal and external bleeding.

The public can prevent the spread of Ebola Virus Disease within the community by:

1. Taking all sick persons with any of these signs and symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease to the nearest health facility immediately for medical attention.

2. Supporting the isolation of persons suffering from Ebola Virus Disease to avoid the spread of the disease within the community.

3. Accepting to wear protective clothing such as gowns, gloves, face mask and goggles each time you visit an Ebola virus disease patient in the health facility to protect you from getting infected with Ebola virus disease

4. Reporting the death of suspected Ebola Virus Disease patients to the nearest health facility.

5. Avoiding traditional burial practices such as embalming and washing of the dead body of suspected Ebola virus disease patient.

6. Informing family members, neighbours and friends about the signs, symptoms and simple preventive measures against Ebola Virus disease such as:

i. Keeping the house and environment clean always;

ii. Maintaining good personal hygiene practices such as washing the hands with soap and water always

iii. Avoiding eating improperly cooked “bush meat”

iv. Avoiding contact with the blood, saliva, faeces and urine of animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, etc (dead or alive)

v. Avoiding contact with the blood, saliva, faeces and urine of an infected person (dead or alive)

7. Ensuring that everyone in your community is educated on the signs, symptoms and how to prevent Ebola Virus Disease through the mosques, churches, schools, market places, Associations, Town hall meetings, etc.

Remember, there are no specific treatments for Ebola Virus Disease. Patients are isolated and then supported by health care workers!.

For further information, please contact the Epidemiology Division, Federal Ministry of Health/Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, Abuja OR Call: 08033120482, 08037154575 and 08037879701. You can also follow us on twitter @EbolaInfoFmohNg

HOW CAN THE SPREAD OF EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE BE PREVENTED IN THE HEALTH FACILITY?

What are the symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease?

The incubation period for Ebola virus disease ranges from 2 to 21 days. The signs and symptoms of the disease include: Fever, Headache, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Chest pain, Stomach pain, Cold, Cough, Joint and muscles pain, Sore throat, Weakness, Depression, Confusion, Red eyes, Internal and external bleeding

How can Ebola Virus Disease be spread in the health facility?

Ebola virus disease can be spread in a health facility through the following:

1. Direct contact with the blood and or secretions of an infected patient;

2. Contact with contaminated medical equipment (such as needles) or patient’s personal items (such as cup, spoon, plates, bed cover, blankets, etc);

3. Reuse of unsterilized needles in health facility;

4. Inhalation of contaminated air in health facility environment;

5. Non implementation of universal infection control precautions.

Who is at risk of contacting Ebola virus disease in the health facility?

1. Health workers in hospital settings with poor basic hygiene and sanitation practices;

2. Health workers providing direct care for Ebola virus patients;

3. Health facility staff who clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces, materials and supplies;

4. Laboratory staff who handle blood samples from suspected Ebola virus disease cases

5. Health workers and support staff (mortuary attendants) who prepares or handle the dead body of Ebola virus disease patient;

How can the spread of Ebola Virus Disease be prevented in the health facility?

The spread of Ebola Virus Disease can be prevented in a health facility by:

1. Ensuring that all health facility have emergency preparedness plan for disease outbreak.

2. Training health workers on how to identify and handle a suspected Ebola virus disease case such as:

· Designation of an area for isolation of suspected and confirm Ebola virus disease cases

· Referring all sick persons with any signs and symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease to the isolation area until the disease has run its course OR to the nearest Ebola Virus Disease diagnostic or treatment centres immediately for medical attention.

· Observing strict barrier nursing principles while caring for Ebola Virus Disease patient such as:

ü Limit the number of health facility staff and visitors in the patient’s room.

ü Wearing protective clothing ( Face Masks, hand gloves, gowns and goggles) before entering the patient’s room

ü Washing hands regularly

ü Limiting the use of invasive procedures and reducing the number of injectable medications

ü Safe disposing and disinfection of personal items, instruments and equipment used in caring and treating Ebola virus disease patients such as syringes, thermometers, beddings, clothing, cups, plates, spoon, etc.

ü Disposing of waste safely

ü Use of safe burial practices

Remember, there are no specific treatments for Ebola Virus Disease. Patients are isolated and then supported by health care workers!.