The confirmation of outbreak of Ebola virus in Lagos on Thursday necessitates increased information-sharing on the virus, particularly ways to avoid contracting it. Here are eight things to know about the viral disease.
1. EBOLA IS DEADLY: The intention is not to scare anyone, but Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is deadly. According to the World Health Organisation, EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%, which means that 90 out of 100, or — if you like — nine out of 10 cases are likely to result in death. One more proof of its deadliness: Sheik Umar Khan, the doctor spearheading the treatment of Ebola in Sierra Leone — he had, in fact, treated more than 100 victims — has now contracted his disease, and has been transferred to a treatment ward run by medical charity, Medecins Sans Frontieres. Formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, it is a severe, often-fatal illness primarily occurring in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rain forests. Prev1 of 8Next
2. TRANSMISSION BEGAN FROM ANIMALS: EVD was first transmitted to people from wild animals. The fruit bat — also called megabat or odd world fruit bat — is the natural host of the Ebola virus. Fruit bats are known to house a number of diseases that are lethal to humans, yet they themselves are rarely affected. For example, between 2001 and 2003, scientists ran series of tests on the bats, and found the virus present in three species: Hypsignathus monstrosus (Hammer-Headed Bat), Epomops franqueti (Franquet’s Epauletted Fruit Bat), and Myonycteris torquata (Little Collared Fruit Bat). Shockingly, none of these three species showed symptoms of the virus. Fruit bats also carry other viruses, such as the epidemical Marburg Virus, Hendra Virus, and Nipah Virus (the latter two being fatal to humans). Yet, talk to South Pacific Islanders and Micronesia, and they consider fruit bats a delicacy! The virus, though, has since been spreading via human-to-human transmission.
3. EBOLA FIRST APPEARED IN SUDAN AND ZAIRE: Although it is widely believed that the first EBV outbreak was recorded in the then Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo) in 1976, WHO says there were two simultaneous first discoveries — in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Yambuku outbreak was in a village close to the Ebola River, which explains the name of the virus.
4. PHYSICAL CONTACT IS THE PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSMISSION:The original spread in Africa began through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines. Humans become infected through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people. Infection is also possible through indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids. It can be transmitted via contact with human corpses. One more thing that underscores the deadliness of the virus is that humans who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus via their semen for up to seven weeks after their recovery. Healthcare personnel are also susceptible if they fail to adhere to safety precautions in treating suspected or confirmed EVD patients.
5. SYMPTOMS OCCUR ROUGHLY A WEEK AFTER INFECTION: Symptoms of EVD usually occur between two and 21 days after exposure to the virus, but most symptoms manifest in eight to 10 days. This is immediately followed by severe acute viral illness often characterised by sudden fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. These primary signs are subsequently followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function. In some cases, there is both internal and external bleeding.
6. THERE IS NO CURE FOR EBOLA There is yet no cure for EVD — at least for the moment. Tests are ongoing on the suitability of a number of vaccines, but none has been approved for clinical use just yet. The most effective health response for severely-ill patients is frequent dehydration and oral re-hydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids.
7. DEFINITIVE DETECTION IS BY LABORATORY TESTS: Correct diagnosis of Ebola virus requires series of laboratory tests. WHO categorises samples taken from patients as “an extreme biohazard risk” and states that testing should be conducted under “maximum biological containment conditions”. Some of the tests are: antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigen detection tests serum neutralisation test reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay electron microscopy virus isolation by cell culture.
8. EBOLA MAY HAVE NO CURE, BUT IT CAN BE PREVENTED: First line of prevention is awareness on the need for humans to avoid contact with fruit bats and monkeys/apes. The consumption of their raw meat should also be stopped. These will help to reduce the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission. Everyone who has reason to touch animals should do so with gloves or any other appropriate protective clothing. Animal products should also be thoroughly cooked before consumption. As for human-to-human transmission, close physical contact with Ebola patients should be avoided. Health workers must always wear gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment when tending to patients. They should also wash their hands regularly after attending to them. Ebola infections and deaths should be promptly reported to health and government authorities, and people who have died from Ebola should be buried immediately.