Ebola: What You Need To Know & Steps You Can Take To Prevent Exposure

Ebola: What You Need To Know & Steps You Can Take To Prevent Exposure
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Everywhere you look there are mis-truths and sensationalism being spread about the threat of Ebola to the general population. Some would like you think that black death will be the coming of the Zombie Apocalypse but unless there is a major mutation to this disease (it has has several mutations since the initial outbreak but nothing to the point of becoming air borne or anything to that effect). This disease is spread much like HIV/AIDS is spread (see the Transmission of Ebola Section Below) which means that with the use of universal precautions you can prevent a vast amount of exposure. If you wear glasses, gloves and an N95 mask and avoid contact with those displaying symptoms of Ebola (see Symptoms of Ebola section below) you will likely come out of the other side of this outbreak unscathed. If you think treat anyone with the symptoms below as if they are infected with Ebola and use the PPE I have listed below it will greatly reduce your risks. Many in Africa have decreased interpersonal contact due to the fear of being exposed by sweet in a handshake. While this is possible if you have a break in your skin you can simply wear gloves or seal breaks in your skin with some pine pitch.

 Symptoms of Ebola:

1) Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
2) Severe headache
3) Muscle pain
4) Weakness
5) Diarrhea
6) Vomiting
7) Abdominal (stomach) pain
8) Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)
*Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days.
**Recovery from Ebola depends on the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.

Transmission of Ebola:

When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with:

1) Blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, feces, vomit, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola
2) Objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus
3) Infected animals
*Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats.
**Once someone recovers from Ebola, they can no longer spread the virus. However, Ebola virus has been found in semen for up to 3 months. 

***People who recover from Ebola are advised to abstain from sex or use condoms for 3 months.

Prevention:

When you think of prevention think personal protective equipment and good personal hygiene. The CDC doesn't currently recommend using and N95 mask, gloves or goggles but I highly suggest you stock up on these before they are hard to get when flu season starts. Basically if you are in contact with someone who has any symptoms you need to think about PPE, I know I wouldn't interact with anyone without simple PPE if they are displaying symptoms of the flu and neither should you. Does this mean you need to go by tyvec suits, no unless you are planning to take a swim in feces, blood or other bodily fluids. Also if you have a don't have any breaks in your skin you can also potentially get by without gloves in everyday encounters (but I personally wouldn't recommend this). There is no FDA-approved vaccine available for Ebola. If you travel to or are in an area affected by an Ebola outbreak, make sure to do the following:
1) Practice careful hygiene. 

2) Avoid contact with blood and body fluids.
3) Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids.
4) Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
5) Avoid contact with bats and nonhuman primates or blood, fluids, and raw meat prepared from these animals.
6) Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on facilities.
7) After you return, monitor your health for 21 days and seek medical care immediately if you develop symptoms of Ebola.
 
Healthcare workers who may be exposed to people with Ebola should follow these steps:
1) Wear protective clothing, including masks, gloves, gowns, and eye protection.
2) Practice proper infection control and sterilization measures. For more information, see “Infection 3) Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in the African Health Care Setting”.
4) Isolate patients with Ebola from other patients.
5) Avoid direct contact with the bodies of people who have died from Ebola.
6) Notify health officials if you have had direct contact with the blood or body fluids, such as but not limited to, feces, saliva, urine, vomit, and semen of a person who is sick with Ebola. The virus can enter the body through broken skin or unprotected mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth.

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