More about Ebola

Dr Tendai Zuze
EBOLA is currently ravaging West Africa and it may only be a matter of time before it lands in Zimbabwe.
We should all be on the lookout for Ebola.
In case you are not sure, early signs and symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, chills and weakness.
Over time, symptoms become increasingly severe and may include: nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea (which may be bloody), red eyes, raised rash, chest pain and cough, stomach pain, severe weight loss, internal bleeding and bleeding from every orifice especially when close to death.

Ebola is initially transmitted from animals through the infected animal’s bodily fluids.
Infected people typically don’t become contagious until they develop symptoms.

Family members are often infected as they care for sick relatives or prepare the dead for burial.
Medical personnel can be infected if they don’t use protective gear, such as surgical masks and gloves.

There’s no evidence that Ebola virus can be spread via insect bites.
You are more likely to catch Ebola if you:

Travel to West Africa. You are at increased risk if you visit or work in areas where an Ebola outbreak has occurred.
Conduct animal research. People are more likely to contract the Ebola or Marburg virus if they conduct animal research with monkeys imported from Africa or the Philippines.

Provide medical or personal care. Family members are often infected as they care for sick relatives. Medical personnel also can be infected if they don’t use protective gear while looking after infected people.

Prepare people for burial. The bodies of people who have died of Ebola are still contagious. Helping prepare these bodies for burial can increase your risk of developing the disease.

As Ebola progresses, it can cause multiple organ failure, severe bleeding, jaundice, delirium, seizures, coma and shock.
One reason the virus is so deadly is that it interferes with the immune system’s ability to mount a defence.

But scientists don’t understand why some people recover from Ebola and others don’t.
It is not clearly understood why some people survive Ebola and some don’t; for those who do survive, recovery is slow.

It may take months to regain weight and strength, and the virus remains in the body for weeks.
People who recover may experience hair loss, sensory changes, liver inflammation (hepatitis), fatigue, headaches, eye inflammation and testicular inflammation.

Ebola is difficult to diagnose because early signs and symptoms resemble those of other diseases, such as typhoid and malaria.
Currently, the tests necessary to confirm Ebola cannot be done in Zimbabwe and blood samples will have to be sent to South Africa.
If you do catch Ebola, current treatment is mostly supportive and includes measures like:

Providing fluids.
Maintaining blood pressure.
Providing oxygen as needed.
Replacing lost blood.
Treating other infections that develop.
Prevention focuses on avoiding contact with the viruses. The following precautions can help prevent infection and spread of Ebola.
Avoid areas of known outbreaks. Like West Africa where there is a current outbreak.

Wash your hands frequently. As with other infectious diseases, one of the most important preventive measures is frequent hand-washing. Use soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 percent alcohol when soap and water aren’t available.

Avoid bush meat. Avoid buying or eating meat from wild animals, especially monkeys, apes; we generally don’t eat these here anyway.
Avoid contact with infected people. In particular, caregivers should avoid contact with the person’s body fluids and tissues, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions and saliva. People with Ebola are most contagious in the later stages of the disease.

Follow infection-control procedures. If you are a health care worker, wear protective clothing, such as gloves, masks, gowns and eye shields.
Keep infected people isolated from others.

Dispose of needles and sterilise other instruments.
Don’t handle remains. The bodies of people who have died of Ebola are still contagious. Specially organised and trained teams should bury the remains, using appropriate safety equipment.

Scientists are working on a variety of vaccines that would protect people from Ebola.
Some of the results have been promising, but further testing is needed.

Dr Zuze can be contacted at Highland Clinic on 020-66364 or [email protected]