Question

Mythbuster In a 400-600 word answer, properly cited with an APA-formatted reference list and in-text citations, please answer the following questions. In addition to the researched facts you present as your answer, you may provide opinions and real-world experiences where appropriate.

Research and determine a controversial topic, myth, or rumor in the field of infectious disease. One example is a rumor that a full cure for HIV has been developed, yet not distributed to the public. Another example includes the use of a “no nit” policy at schools for students with head lice. In addition, according to a recent WHO report, many people think antibiotics cure the flu and that you should discontinue antibiotics once you feel better.

1. State the myth or rumor and why some people believe it. If possible, include specific statistics such as what percent of people may actually believe it.

2. What impact does this myth or rumor have on the ability for medical professionals to effectively treat disease? What impact does it have on the patient or public health?

3. Create an awareness campaign to dispel the myth or rumor. What should the message be? What would be the best method to communicate this to the population affected and/or the general public?

Resources to get you started:

Common myths about infections and antibiotics

http://www.evansmedicalgroup.com/files/common-myths-about-infections-and-antibiotics.pdf

Antibiotic Resistance: Multi-Country Public Awareness Survey

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/194460/1/9789241509817_eng.pdf?ua=1

Head Lice Information for Schools

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lice/head/schools.html

Answer 1

Ebola Virus- Busting the myth

Smitha Munasad

Health reporter BBC news

22 September 2014

Certain myths have been developed as Ebola virus have taken 2,800 lives so far. The myths and rumors that have been spread about this infectious diseases are:

1. Salt water or raw onions can protect you.
2. You cannot catch ebola through a deceased person.
3. It cannot be caught through sexual contact.
4. Health care workers brought the disease into the affected countries.
5. Expensive hand sanitizers are needed to kill the disease.

Ebola is spread through contact with the body fluids of the infected person. Drinking salty water or raw onions cannot protect one from catching infection. Dead bodies do contain the virus and close contact to the deceased with spread the infection. Therefore protective measures have to be taken while cremating dead bodies. Ebola as said earlier is present in body fluid which includes semen and vaginal secretion. So avoid sexual intercourse with the diseased person. The ebola is found to be spread initially by the contact of human with the infected animals. Its not true that the health workers carried the infection. There is no special hand sanitizer to kill ebola virus. Frequent hand hygiene with soap and water is recommended.

These myths have guided people towards getting affected from the disease more frequently. Thus increased the incidences of ebola infection. Because of these existing myths, the cooperation of patients with health care professionals is unsatisfactory and compliance to treatment regimen is poor. People tend to use home remedies like salty water and raw onions which delays the treatment and the process of early identification of cases is also affected. This may lead to development of the disease as an epidemic or even pandemic.

An awareness campaign is very important to create awareness among people at different levels of community right from remote rural, areas of forest to urban areas. This campaign to stop or prevent the spread of ebola should be applied at subcenters,anganwadis, primary health care, community health centers, general and private hospitals and various voluntary health organizations. The campaign should include the information related to the nature and virulence of the ebola virus, modes of transmission, signs and symptoms of the disease, need for early identification, various preventive measures and treatment modalities available. People should also be educated regarding the safety measures to be taken while handling dead bodies, hunting of animals etc.

The awareness campaign should be easily accessible to the general population and should be in the language that is easily understood by them. Use of various advertisements like in televisions, magazines, posters, pamphlets, newspapers, journal will be helpful. The social media like facebook, twitter, google which is most frequently used nowadays should also incorporate the details about ebola virus and its preventive measures.

For infection to be prevented and to reduce its spread and mortality rates, community participation pays a key role. But the existing myths about the disease should be clarified immediately with strong evidences so that these myths may not pave further way towards increased mortality rate due to ebola.

References:

1. Smith Mundasad, " Ebola virus-busting the myths", 22 september 2014
2. Charles Patrick Davis, " Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebiola virus disease)"