Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic
fever, is a severe illness that is spreading fast in West Africa. Though Ebola
had 2 simultaneous outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan and in Yambuku,
Democratic
Republic of Congo since 1976
but it is believed now that Nigeria is at risk of
contracting this deadly disease. The EVD have outbreaks of 90% case fatality rate.This disease is said to be deadlier than AIDS. Just
3 days ago, it claimed the lives 61 people in guinea.
The virus is transmitted
to people from wild animals and spread in human population through
human-to-human transmission, with infection relating to direct contact (through
broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other
bodily fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environments
contaminated with such fluids.
As a matter of fact, this disease is said to be
so deadly that mourners in burial ceremonies which have direct contact with the deceased can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola and even health
workers who treat those that are infected have also been infected.
Signs and symptoms are intense weakness, muscle pain, headache,
vomiting and sore throat which is later
followed by vomiting, rash, diarrhea,
impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external
bleeding.
