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Ebola Virus: All you need to know

On Friday, July 25, 2014, a Liberian, Patrick Sawyer died at First Atlantic Hospital, Victoria Island, Lagos, of the deadly Ebola virus. The death of the 40 years old Liberian in Lagos, confirmed that the worst ever outbreak of the virus has reached Nigeria and that is the first ever victim in Nigeria. The patient was subjected to thorough medical tests upon admission at the hospital which confirmed the virus of Ebola, the Lagos state government confirmed.

ebolaSawyer worked for the Liberian government and had travelled to Nigeria by air via Togo’s capital, Lome, for a meeting organised by the West African bloc known as Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in Calabar, Cross River State.

He was suffering from severe vomiting and diarrhoea upon arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos and was transported directly to the hospital. Sawyer reportedly did not show Ebola symptoms when he boarded the plane, but by the time he arrived Nigeria, he was vomiting and had diarrhea.

The patient was said to have avoided contact with people between the airport and the hospital. All the passengers that the patient came in contact have been traced and are being investigated, in a bid to contain any spread of the virus across the city of more than 20 million people. Sawyer’s body whose sister also died of the virus back home in Liberia as confirmed by the country’s health minister, has been cremated in Lagos to avoid spread of the deadly virus.

Presently, international airports in Nigeria are screening passengers arriving from foreign countries for symptoms of Ebola, according to Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN). Health officials are also working with ports and land borders. They are giving out information in terms of enlightenment, what to do and what to look out for. President Goodluck Jonathan had also summoned health minister, Lagos state governor, immigrations chiefs to a special meeting in Abuja. The Lagos State government has equally held meeting with the state health officials on how to sensitize the public on ways to avoid the virus.

ABOUT THE DEADLY EBOLA VIRUS

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), Ebola is a rare but deadly infection that causes bleeding inside and outside the body.

The disease, also known as Ebola Hemorrhagic fever or Ebola Virus disease, kills up to 90 percent of people who are infected. Ebola can spread from country to country when people travel. So, it is possible for Ebola to spread if someone who is infected travels on a plane. The Ebola Virus first appeared during two 1976 outbreaks in Africa. Ebola got its name from the Ebola river, which is near one of the villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease first appeared.

TRANSMISSION

Ebola can be transmitted by coming into contact with the blood or body fluids of an animal or person who is infected. People often get sick with Ebola when they care for or bury a person who has the disease. Someone also can catch the virus by touching contaminated needles or surfaces.

SYMPTOMS

Symptoms of the virus show up two to 21 days after infection. As the virus spreads through the body cells, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, Ebola causes levels of blood-clotting cells, called platelets, to fall, which can lead to severe bleeding. Many of the early symptoms of Ebola look like flu or other mild illnesses. They include: fever, headache, muscle aches, sore throat, weakness, diarrhea. And as the disease gets worse, people who are infected may develop bleeding inside and outside of the body, rash, trouble in breathing.

DIAGNOSIS

It is hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may first test for other diseases that have the same symptoms as Ebola, such as: cholera, hepatitis, malaria meningitis, typhoid fever.

Tests of the blood and tissues also can help diagnose Ebola. If someone has Ebola, he should be isolated from the public immediately to help prevent the spread.

TREATMENT

Presently, there is no real treatment or cure for Ebola. Doctors try to manage people’s symptoms by giving them fluids and electrolytes through a vein, nutrition, oxygen.

PREVENTION

There is no vaccine to prevent Ebola. People can avoid the disease by not travelling to areas where the virus is found. Health care workers can prevent infection by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles whenever they come into contact with people who may have Ebola.

CAUSES OF OUTBREAK

An outbreak starts when someone comes into contact with the body fluids or waste of infected animals, such as monkeys, chimpazees. Once a person is infected, he or she can then spread it. Ebola Virus can be transmitted to dogs and pigs even bush meat.

-FOLUSO SAMUEL

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Written by Encomium

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