Paris - Preventing infection by the Ebola virus
entails simple but rigorously-observed
methods of barrier protection and monitoring
for signs of ill-health, say experts.
These are recommendations by the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the US Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Be alert for symptoms
Symptoms of Ebola include fever, headache,
joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhoea,
vomiting, stomach pain, lack of appetite and in
some cases bleeding.
"Transmission is through direct contact with
bodily fluids of an infected person, or
exposure to objects such as needles that have
been contaminated with infected secretions,"
said Stephan Monroe, deputy director of the
CDC's National Center for Emerging and
Zoonotic Infectious Diseases.
Also Read: Spain places husband of Ebola
nurse in quarantine
"Ebola is not contagious until symptoms
appear." The incubation period for Ebola --
meaning the time lapse between infection and
the onset of symptoms -- is up to 21 days.
Avoid contact with body fluids
The Ebola virus can be spread though mucus,
semen, saliva, vomit, stool or blood but is not
considered transmissible through airborne
droplets, as flu can be, through sneezes and
coughs.
Statistics show that most people who become
infected with Ebola are those who live with and
care for people who have the disease, which
explains why health workers are especially
vulnerable.
Caregivers in contact with Ebola patients wear
a long-sleeved gown, mask, goggles and gloves.
The CDC also recommends routine hand-
washing before and after contact with any
patient who has a fever, as well as safe
handling and disposal of needles and syringes.
Caution after recovery
In the current epidemic, the virus is fatal in
about one in two recorded cases. Those who
recover must exercise caution for nearly two
months because they may still be infectious.
"Men who have recovered from the disease
can still transmit the virus through their
semen for up to seven weeks after recovery
from illness," said the WHO.
Care with funeral rites
Ebola has also spread to people who touched
the bodies of people who had died from the
virus, such as during funeral preparations and
burial ceremonies.
"People who have died from Ebola should be
promptly and safely buried," said the WHO.
Avoid bushmeat
Ebola gets into the human population after
people come in contact with the blood, organs
or bodily fluids of infected animals.
Also Read: EU demands explanation from
Spain on Ebola case
Fruit bats are Ebola's natural host. The virus
can be transmitted to other species, which in
parts of forested tropical Africa, are
"bushmeat," a source of food.
"In Africa, infection has been documented
through the handling of infected chimpanzees,
gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope
and porcupines found ill or dead or in the
rainforest," according to the WHO, which says
people should avoid eating or handling raw
bushmeat.
NOTE :narcotics have been discovered to be hindering the growth of Ebola virus in the blood
Out of the thousands of people who have died as a result of the Ebola virus none of them is an addict
The reason why it's taking so long to make it open to the world that narcotics is an anti Ebola virus is that scientists are looking for a way to make the treatment non addiction oriented drug, like the way boys now use codine, tramadol and other psychoactive drugs