5 ways to prevent Ebola outbreak

The confirmation of an Ebola case in Nigeria has brought renewed attention to how the disease spreads and what people can do to prevent further infections.

Ebola is a serious viral disease that can spread through direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of an infected person. It can also spread through contaminated materials and contact with the bodies of people who have died from the disease.

Unlike respiratory infections that can spread easily through the air, Ebola is mainly associated with direct contact with infected body fluids. The risk becomes greater when an infected person develops symptoms. This means that knowing how the virus spreads, recognising possible symptoms and reporting suspected exposure early can help health authorities contain an outbreak.

For members of the public, simple precautions can also reduce the risk of infection. In this article, Tribune Online highlights  five ways to  prevent an Ebola outbreak from spreading.

Wash your hands regularly

Regular hand washing  remains one of the simplest ways to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. People should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and clean running water, particularly after using the toilet, before preparing or eating food, after caring for someone who is sick and after touching surfaces that may be contaminated.

When soap and clean water are not available, hand sanitiser can be used. It is also important to avoid touching the eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. These parts of the body can provide a route for germs to enter the body.

Hand hygiene is particularly important in healthcare facilities, where health workers may come into contact with infected body fluids. Doctors, nurses, laboratory workers, cleaners and other staff caring for suspected or confirmed cases need to follow proper infection prevention procedures and use the protective equipment provided for the situation.

Members of the public should not attempt to provide close physical care for a suspected Ebola patient without proper training and protective equipment. A person may want to help a sick relative, but direct contact with vomit, blood, urine, faeces or other body fluids can expose the caregiver to the virus.

Avoid contact with the body fluids of suspected cases

One of the most important things people need to understand about Ebola is how it is transmitted. The virus can spread through contact with infected body fluids , including blood, vomit, urine, faeces, saliva, sweat and breast milk. 

Other body fluids can also carry the virus.For this reason, people should not touch the blood or other body fluids of anyone suspected or confirmed to have Ebola.

The same caution applies to objects that may have been contaminated by an infected person. These can include clothing, bedding, needles, medical equipment and other materials that have come into contact with body fluids. This can be particularly difficult when a person becomes sick at home and family members want to care for them.

Instead of attempting to manage a suspected Ebola case without protection, families should contact health authorities or a healthcare facility and follow the instructions given. People should also avoid sharing information or advice that encourages untrained individuals to handle suspected patients.

Healthcare workers caring for such patients require appropriate personal protective equipment and must follow established infection prevention and control measures.

People who recover from Ebola may also require follow-up care and specific precautions. The virus can persist in certain body fluids for some time after recovery, so survivors should follow the advice of their healthcare providers.

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Ensure safe handling of people who die from Ebola

The risk of transmission does not end when an infected person dies. The body of someone who has died from Ebola can remain infectious. This makes some traditional burial practices particularly risky during an outbreak.

In many Nigerian communities, family members and relatives may normally wash, touch, dress or prepare the body of a loved one before burial. 

While these practices are important to many families, direct contact with the body of an Ebola victim can expose mourners to infection. Suspected or confirmed Ebola deaths should therefore be handled by trained  burial teams equipped with the appropriate protective equipment.

Families should cooperate with health officials to ensure that burial arrangements are safe while also respecting the dignity of the deceased. 

Religious and community leaders can also help by explaining the reasons for temporary changes to normal burial practices and encouraging families to follow public health instructions.

This is important because funerals can bring large numbers of people together. If an infected body is handled without proper precautions, several mourners may be exposed and the infection can spread beyond the immediate family. Safe burial does not mean that families cannot mourn their loved ones. It means ensuring that mourning and burial do not create new infections.

Be careful around wild animals and bushmeat

Ebola can also be transmitted from infected animals to humans. Certain wild animals, including fruit bats and some primates, have been associated with Ebola virus transmission. Contact with sick or dead wild animals can therefore pose a risk. People should avoid touching wild animals that appear sick or animals found dead.

During an outbreak, members of the public should also pay close attention to health authorities’ advice concerning hunting, butchering and handling bushmeat.

The risk is not limited to eating meat. Handling an infected animal, its blood or other body fluids can expose a person to the virus.

Anyone handling animal products should maintain good hygiene and ensure that meat is properly cooked.

This does not mean that every wild animal or every piece of bushmeat carries Ebola. The concern is contact with potentially infected animals, particularly sick or dead wildlife.

People who come across a dead wild animal should avoid touching it and report it to the appropriate authorities where necessary.

Report possible exposure and seek medical attention early

Early reporting can make a major difference during an Ebola outbreak. Anyone who believes they have had close contact with a person suspected or confirmed to have Ebola should inform health authorities promptly and follow the instructions given.

People who have been exposed may be monitored for symptoms because Ebola has an incubation period of between two and 21 days.

Possible symptoms include fever, tiredness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea. Some patients may develop bleeding, although bleeding is not present in every case.

The early symptoms can resemble those of several other illnesses. This is why people should not try to diagnose Ebola themselves.

If symptoms develop after a possible exposure, the person should seek medical attention immediately and clearly tell healthcare workers about the contact. It is also advisable to call the health facility before arriving, where possible. This allows healthcare workers to prepare and take steps to protect other patients and staff.

People should not hide a history of contact with a suspected Ebola case because of fear, embarrassment or stigma. 

Giving accurate information helps health workers identify other people who may have been exposed. These contacts can then be monitored and provided with appropriate advice. Early reporting also gives health authorities a better chance of isolating suspected cases, tracing contacts and preventing further transmission.