Question

Suggest what level of changes would aid in improving the quality care and prevention for the Ebola outbreak

Answer 1

Definition of Ebola:

Ebola is a rare virus that 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. The disease was known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever but now it is referred to as Ebola virus. It kills up to 90% of people who are infected.

Symptoms of Ebola:

• a high temperature (fever)
• a headache
• joint and muscle pain
• a sore throat
• severe muscle weakness

These symptoms start suddenly between 2 and 21 days after becoming infected. Diarrhoea, vomiting, a rash, stomach pain and reduced kidney and liver function are the other symptoms. The person may then bleed internally, and may also bleed from the ears, eyes, nose or mouth.

Levels of prevention:

There are three levels of prevention. They are:

• primary prevention- health promotion and specific protection (e.g.: immunization)
• secondary prevention- screening and early diagnosis (e.g.: diagnostic tests)
• tertiary prevention- treatment and rehabilitation (e.g.: speech therapy)

The main goal of the health care system is based on primary prevention to prevent Ebola outbreak with includes health promotion and specific protection. There’s no vaccine to prevent Ebola. So the following measures are taken to prevent Ebola outbreak.

General precautions:

• The best way to avoid catching the disease is by not travelling to areas where the virus is found.
• wash your hands frequently using soap and water – use alcohol hand rubs when soap isn't available
• make sure fruits and vegetables are properly washed and peeled before you eat them
• avoid physical contact with anyone who has possible symptoms of an infection
• don't handle dead animals or their raw meat
• don't eat "bushmeat"

Contact with infected people:

• Avoid direct contact with the bodily fluids of people with Ebola or unknown illnesses, including:

• urine
• blood
• saliva
• vomit
• semen
• breast milk
• vaginal fluid

• You should also avoid direct contact with:

• bodies of people who have died of Ebola or unknown illnesses
• medical equipment (like needles) contaminated with blood or bodily fluids

Contact with wild animals:

Avoid both live and dead wild animals because they could be potential carriers of Ebola, including:

• gorillas
• monkeys
• fruit bats
• porcupines
• chimpanzees
• forest antelope

Health care workers:

If you are a health care worker:

• practise strict infection control measures, including isolating infected individuals and using personal protective equipment properly, including:
  • gowns
  • masks
  • gloves
  • goggles
• disinfect or dispose of instruments and equipment properly after treating Ebola patients
  • needles should be throw out as disinfection could be dangerous
  • scalpels and thermometers should be disinfected

• Practice proper infection control and sterilization measures.
• Isolate patients with Ebola from other patients.
• Avoid direct, unprotected contact with the bodies of people who have died from Ebola.
• Notify health officials if you have had direct contact with the blood or body fluids, such as but not limited to, feces, saliva, urine, vomit, and semen of a person who is sick with Ebola. The virus can enter the body through broken skin or unprotected mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Returning travellers:

If you are sick after you return or if you were sick while you were away, see a health provider and tell them the countries you visited, and if you received any medical care, such as:

• blood transfusions,
• injections,
• dental care or,
• surgery

Describe your symptoms to the health care provider before you make the appointment. Some illnesses are highly contagious, so he/she might arrange to see you without exposing others.

• Practice careful hygiene. For example, wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid contact with blood and body fluids (such as urine, feces, saliva, sweat, urine, vomit, breast milk, semen, and vaginal fluids).
• Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids (such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment).
• Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
• Avoid contact with bats and nonhuman primates or blood, fluids, and raw meat prepared from these animals.
• Avoid facilities in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on facilities.
• Avoid contact with semen from a man who has had Ebola until you know Ebola is gone from his semen.
• After you return, monitor your health for 21 days and seek medical care immediately if you develop symptoms of Ebola.
• If you are sick, try to stay away from others. Stay home or in your hotel room unless you need medical care.