UNICEF Says Ebola Virus is Spreading Fast in Guinea And To Other West African Countries

-




UNICEF has announced that an Ebola Outbreak has killed at least 59 People in Guinea.
The epidemic has hit the capital city Conakry. “At least 59 out of 80 who contracted Ebola across the West African country have died so far” said UNICEF in a statement to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Ebola is spreading FAST to other West African countries.


There are currently no known treatments or vaccines for Ebola, a viral hemorrhagic fever that kills up to 90 percent of those who become infected.

The virus spread through direct contact with blood, faeces or sweat, sexual contact and unprotected handing of contaminated corpses.
“This outbreak is particularly devastating because medical staff are among the first victims … hindering the response and threatening normal care in a country already lacking in medical personnel,” revealed UNICEF.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe and often deadly illness that can occur in humans and primates (e.g. monkeys, gorillas).
Ebola hemorrhagic fever has made worldwide news because of its destructive potential.


Causes
Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola fever) is caused by a virus belonging to the family called Filoviridae. Scientists have identified five types of Ebola virus. Four have been reported to cause disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire virus, Ebola-Sudan virus, Ebola-Ivory Coast virus, and Ebola-Bundibugyo. The human disease has so far been limited to parts of Africa.
The Reston type of Ebola virus has recently been found in the Philippines.
The disease can be passed to humans from infected animals and animal materials. Ebola can also be spread between humans by close contact with infected body fluids or through infected needles in the hospital.


Symptoms
During the incubation period, which can last about 1 week (rarely up to 2 weeks) after infection, symptoms include:
  • Arthritis
  • Backache (low-back pain)
  • Chills
  • Diarrhea
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Malaise
  • Nausea
  • Sore throat
  • Vomiting

Late symptoms include:
  • Bleeding from eyes, ears, and nose
  • Bleeding from the mouth and rectum (gastrointestinal bleeding)
  • Eye swelling (conjunctivitis)
  • Genital swelling (labia and scrotum)
  • Increased feeling of pain in the skin
  • Rash over the entire body that often contains blood (hemorrhagic)
  • Roof of mouth looks red
  • Treatment
There is no known cure. Existing medicines that fight viruses (antivirals) do not work well against Ebola virus.
The patient is usually hospitalized and will most likely need intensive care. Supportive measures for shock include medications and fluids given through a vein.
Bleeding problems may require transfusions of platelets or fresh blood...NYTIMES
culled from www.stelladimokokorkus.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Healthy diet for the rainy season

-
Image
Along with the showers comes the risk of various diseases like food poisoning, diarrhoea, dysentery and cholera. Again, in rainy season, digestion is generally weak. Therefore, you should eat less. It is also essential to fast once a week or fortnight. People eat some incorrect food during this time and fall sick. To protect your health, follow this dietary guideline: •Avoid heavy, salty food, as it promotes water retention and bloating. It is better to have medium or low salt food •Eat foods which are drying in nature, the most popular being corn, and oats, among others. Eating watery foods like rice and watermelon creates swelling in the body •Maintain the general hygiene while eating out and definitely avoid roadside vendors, as very few people have the high immunity to handle the bacterial overload at such places •The milk is the better diet in this season. Drink butter milk, as it improves digestion. Oily food should be taken in less quantity •Eat li...
Read more

Managing lactose intolerance in children

-
A concerned mom shared her experience with other mothers about the likely causes of diarrhoea in children: “When my daughter was two months old, she started having diarrhoea. I let this go on for a couple of days and then took her to our family doctor. The doctor told me that she has gastroenteritis (infectious diarrhoea). I was given oral re-hydration solution and Flagyl syrup. After a couple of days, she still wasn’t any better and I was at my breaking point. So, I scheduled an appointment with another doctor in order to get a second opinion. The new doctor that I now call my daughter’s pediatrician said that she didn’t think that the baby has gastroenteritis. She said that she was likely to be lactose intolerant and had colic. She told us that when a baby is developing intolerance to cow’s milk, a symptom of that is diarrhoea. So, she advised us to change her baby formula, and, immediately, the diarrhoea stopped.” Lactose (milk) intolerance happens whe...
Read more

When fibroid co-exists with pregnancy

-
Image
                        Dr. Samuel Adebayo Uterine fibroid, also known as Leiomyoma, is a benign (non-cancerous) tumour of the uterus (womb). Fibroids are the most common benign tumours in females and they occur during the reproductive years. They occur in up to 50 per cent of women. The exact cause of this tumour is unknown; but some factors are associated with increased chance of developing uterine fibroid. A family history is a factor. History of fibroid developing in women of the same family or race plays a role in a woman’s life. African women have between two and three times chances of developing fibroid than white women. Also, African women develop fibroid at a younger age, usually in their 20s and above, unlike white or caucasian women where fibroid may occur in their 30s or 40s. No pregnancy or low pregnancy rate increases the risk, just as early onset of menses...
Read more