The recent outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Africa, currently mainly in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone has caused great concern to some people throughout the world including Anguilla. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) recently issued a statement on the spread of the deadly Ebola virus, advising that while the risk of the disease being imported to the Caribbean was low, countries in the region needed to prepare for it.
What is Ebola virus disease?
The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus, is a rare but deadly virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body. It kills up to 90% of people who are infected.
As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop. This leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding.
It is transmitted through direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids (e.g. saliva, urine) from infected people, dead or alive. This includes unprotected sexual contact with patients up to seven weeks after they have recovered.
You can also catch the disease from direct contact with blood and other bodily fluids from wild animals, dead or alive, such as monkeys, forest antelopes and bats.
Ebola virus does not transmit through the air as influenza does.
After two days and up to 21 days following exposure to the virus the disease may start suddenly with fever, muscle aches, weakness, headache and sore throat.
The next stage of the disease is characterised by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash and malfunction of the liver and kidneys. Some patients also have profuse internal and external bleeding and multi-organ failure.
There is no specific vaccine or treatment for the disease at this time.
How Is Ebola diagnosed?
Sometimes it is hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may test to rule out other diseases like cholera or malaria.
Tests of blood and tissues also can diagnose Ebola.
If you have Ebola, you will be isolated from the public immediately to prevent the spread.
Risk of infection with Ebola virus and how to avoid it
Even if you are living in, or have travelled to, affected areas, the risk of infection with Ebola virus is extremely low, unless you have been directly exposed to bodily fluids of a dead or living infected person or animal. Contact with bodily fluids includes unprotected sexual contact with patients up to seven weeks after they have recovered.
Casual contacts in public places with people that do not appear to be sick do not transmit Ebola. You cannot contract Ebola virus by handling money, groceries or swimming in a pool. Mosquitoes do not transmit the Ebola virus.
Ebola virus is easily killed by soap, bleach, sunlight, or drying. Machine washing clothes that have been contaminated with fluids will destroy Ebola virus. Ebola virus survives only a short time on surfaces that are in the sun or have dried.
Current outbreak
The current outbreak occurring in Africa affects four countries, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone and, according to the World Health Organization, in these countries there have been 1,711 confirmed cases of EVD and 932 deaths as at August 04, 2014. This makes it the largest EVD outbreak ever reported, both in terms of cases and the geographical spread.
Travelers from affected areas
If you have been directly exposed to any bodily fluids from a dead or living infected person or animal, including unprotected sexual contact with patients that have recovered, you should:
• Seek rapid medical attention mentioning your travel history.
• Contact the medical care facility by phone before your visit, in order to enable medical personnel to use appropriate protection at the time of admission.
Conclusion
According to the recent statement from the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA):-Once basic precautions are followed, the risk of infection is considered to be “very low” for tourists, visitors or residents in the affected areas. These precautions include avoiding physical contact with patients showing symptoms or dead bodies and their bodily fluids, as well as avoiding unprotected sexual contact with a patient that has recently recovered from the disease. As with any other imported disease, Ebola virus is causing a lot of concern in the region. In this regard, according to the release, CARPHA is committed to supporting its member states, including Anguilla, to adequately prepare for potential cases, and to implement the necessary steps to protect healthcare facilities, patients, healthcare workers and communities.
Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. The reader should consult his or her physician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field are ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.
Dr Brett Hodge is an Obstetrician/Gynaecologist and Family Doctor who has over thirty years in clinical practice. Dr Hodge has a medical practice in The Johnson Building in The Valley (Tel: 264 4975828).
