Fighting Ebola epidemic

Since its outbreak, the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has killed several thousand people and is still continuing its ravaging effects in West Africa. Not just in Africa, at least 17 people were treated outside Africa who have contracted the disease, treated and two of them have died recently. Scientists, healthcare professionals, World Health Organisation (WHO) have urged everyone to work together to contain the epidemic and prevent its deadly consequences the world might face.

Ebola is a deadly virus that has a fatality as high as 90 percent. Symptoms usually begin about eight to 10 days after exposure to the virus, but can appear as late as 21 days after exposure. EVD presents much as many other viral infections do, with nonspecific signs such as fever, headache, sore throat and body aches. After a few days, however, the predominant clinical syndrome is a severe gastrointestinal illness with vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Humans who contracted the virus are not infectious until they develop symptoms. People remain infectious as long as their blood and body fluids, including semen and breast milk, contain the virus. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.

Although Bangladesh is not listed as high risk country for Ebola epidemic, the recent return from 6 Bangladeshis from Liberia, an Ebola affected country has escalated the fear. They are reported to be healthy so far.

However, as the disease may take upto 21 days to evolve, appropriate measures should be taken to track and follow them for symptoms. Although Bangladesh’s health ministry declared the 90-day surveillance and medical teams were deployed at 25 entry points, including international airports, seaports and land ports to monitor Ebola infiltration, some people may carry the virus at their healthy state. Experts believe the risk is still low but could give a big blow to a country like Bangladesh if precaution is not taken properly.

Amid fear, there is still hope that we can fight back Ebola. The World Health Organisation has recently declared that the Ebola outbreak in Senegal, one of the epidemic countries is officially over. It is a good example of what to do when faced with an imported case of Ebola.

Although there is no proven antiviral drug or vaccine, many lives have been saved with supportive care. Many experts opined that supportive care is also specific care for EVD — and in all likelihood reduces mortality. Unfortunately, many patients in West Africa continue to die for lack of the opportunity to receive such basic care.

In the end, whatever measures the other countries have taken to prevent entry of the virus, the world will remain in threat if the epidemic is not going to be stopped in West Africa.