Ebola virus is a deadly disease which has claimed the lives of many in Africa. There has been several outbreaks in several parts of Africa, with the recent outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo snatching three victims.
However, the World Health Organisation has warned against fresh outbreak.
Here are the tips to protect yourself from ebola:
1 Wash your hands regularly
To prevent yourself from contacting ebola, you need to always wash your hands with soap and water regularly. Hand sanitizers can be used as an alternative.
2 Protective gears
Do not go near someone with Ebola without wearing protective gears, including a face mask and gloves.
3 Avoid contact with anyone you believe is infected
You must ensure you stay clear of persons who are infected as ebola is highly contagious and could be contacted even by mere touch.
4 Disinfect any potentially infected area
Use disinfectant to clean the surrounding), especially areas used by infected person(s).
5 Disinfect and burn items used by victims
Use disinfectant on clothes, beddings and other items used by infected person (s) and burn them.
6 Isolate victims
This is a process where by you discover yourself or another person might have ebola. The solution is to separate your self and call for help immediately.
7 Do not touch bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys and ‘bush meat’
Don’t touch any of the animals listed, no matter how cute they are. Don’t touch their blood or fluids, and don’t eat raw meat prepared from these animals. It’s believed that humans contracted the disease from animals.
8 Avoid touching corpses
If you know somebody who died of ebola, do not touch their body because you can still contact ebola from the corpse – and it is more contagious than that of a sick patient because it emits fluid.
9 Avoid travelling to affected countries
Do no go to countries where cases of ebola have been reported. Avoid travelling to countries hit by ebola virus.
10 Treat injuries
If you have any sort of cut and bleeding, you should not expose it. It must be covered. Because the virus can affect the body through an open wound.
11 Use condoms
Abstain from unprotected sex, use condoms.
According to Wikipedia, ‘Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) or simply Ebola, is a viral hemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses. Signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, sore throat, muscular pain, and headaches.’
– AZEEZAT KAREEM AND SHUKURAT ALIMI