EBOLA

FACTS

• 22,000 people infected so far worldwide
• Ebola had spread to West Africa, Guinea, Liberia and Sierra leone
• 4,869 Africans died
• In Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Guinea and Liberia the are more than 900 deaths
• It is spread by direct exposure to blood or secretions from infected individuals
• The virus is NOT airborne
• Fruit bats are thought to be neutral hosts of the virus

VIDEO ABOUT EBOLA

WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF EBOLA?
The Ebola virus belongs to the viral family Filoviridae. Scientists also call it the Filovirus. Ebola can be further divided into subtypes that are named for the location they were identified.

WHEN DID EBOLA START?
The current outbreak in West Africa (first cases notified in March 2014), is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. There have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined.

WHERE IS EBOLA FOUND?
The Ebola virus causes Ebola fever. The virus is found in Africa and the Philippines, but the virus from the Philippines does not cause any illness in humans. The Virus was named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it was first discovered.

WHAT IS THE MORTALITY RATE OF EBOLA?
The average Ebola survival rate is about 50%, according to the World Health Organization, but it varies greatly, in part because of the different medical resources available to treat different patients. In past outbreaks, all of which have been in Africa, fatality rates ranged from 25% to 90%.

Untitled Slide

PREVENTIONS

• Stop contact with infected animals and the consumption of their meat
• Isolate the sick
• Prompt disposal of victims bodies
• Disinfect homes of dead and inspected
• Protective clothing for health care workers
• Wash hands with soap and maintain proper hygiene
• Avoiding undercooked food
• Go to a health facilities as soon as you have any symptoms

Untitled Slide

Well, there really is no conclusion to this. The fact that we still have new cases emerging as we speak, therefore we must continue to adhere to the precautionary measures made by the health authorities.