Ebola outbreak sparks concern in India, US: Should you be worried? Here’s what you need to know about signs, symptoms and prevention
“Travelers to the area should avoid contact with sick people, report symptoms promptly and follow our travel health guidelines,” Satish Pillai, CDC’s Ebola response incident manager, told reporters.
While health experts have warned about the Ebola outbreak, India’s Ministry of Health said no Ebola cases have been reported in India since 2014, except for one international traveler who tested positive the same year. Indian health experts said that there is no need to panic because Ebola does not spread like Covid-19, but precautions and early diagnosis are vital.
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How does Ebola spread?
Former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria told Times of India that Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids, blood, vomit, secretions or contaminated materials. It is different from Covid-19, which spreads through routine droplet transmission. According to the World Health Organization, Ebola can spread in the following ways:
– The virus can be transmitted to the human population when humans come into close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other body fluids of infected animals, such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorilla, monkeys, forest antelope, or porcupines, or those found sick or dead in the rainforest.
-People can contract the virus from another person through direct contact.
– You can catch the Ebola virus if you are in direct contact with:
Blood or body fluids of a person infected with or dying from Ebola; And
Objects or surfaces contaminated with body fluids (such as blood, feces, vomit) of a person who is infected or has died from the disease.
-Funeral ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of a deceased person may also contribute to the transmission of Ebola disease.
The World Health Organization said people cannot transmit the disease without showing symptoms and remain contagious as long as they have the virus in their blood.
Ebola outbreak: Signs and symptoms
In the Ebola epidemic, the incubation period (the time from infection to the appearance of symptoms) can vary between 2 and 21 days. Symptoms can be sudden and include:
fire
burnout
malaise
muscle pain
headache and sore throat.
These are followed by symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash, and deterioration in kidney and liver functions. Some patients may develop internal and external bleeding, including blood in vomit and stool, bleeding from the nose, gums, and vagina.
Ebola survivors may suffer from long-term complications such as:
Fatigue
headaches
Muscle and joint pains
Eye and vision problems (blurred vision, pain, redness, sensitivity to light)
weight gain
Stomach pain or loss of appetite
Ebola prevention tips
You can help protect yourself against Ebola by doing the following:
Avoiding contact with body fluids and tissues of people and animals (dead or alive) that may have Ebola
Avoiding sexual intercourse completely or using a condom until tests confirm that your semen no longer contains Ebola
Isolation from others if you have Ebola
Not eating wild animal meat
Avoid touching body fluids of Ebola patients, even if you wear gloves, and wash your hands after contact
Avoid traveling to areas where there is an Ebola outbreak
Wearing PPE when caring for someone with Ebola
Ebola vaccines
Two vaccines have been approved: Ervebo (Merck & Co.) and Zabdeno and Mvabea (Janssen Pharmaceutica). Ervebo vaccine is recommended as part of the outbreak response.
