There has been considerable attention given to the recent Ebola outbreak in the media in the past few months, causing grave concern in Africa and even beyond the continent's borders. With the media fuelling the imagination of the general public, it is often difficult to tell the facts from the fiction when reading about this epidemic.
As the second largest medical scheme in South Africa, GEMS cares about the health and wellbeing of our members, so we have therefore compiled the following guide which highlights everything you need to know about the recent Ebola outbreak.
What is Ebola?
Ebola haemorrhagic fever is a severe, acute viral illness usually characterised by fever, muscle pain, headache, a sore throat and intense weakness. The disease then progresses to diarrhoea, vomiting, a rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and internal and external bleeding.
The first outbreak of the disease occurred simultaneously in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976. The Congo outbreak was in a village close to the Ebola River, which is how the disease got its name. Ebola outbreaks usually occur in Central and West Africa, primarily in remote villages near tropical rainforests.
How is Ebola transmitted?
The Ebola virus has been found in both humans and in animals such as bats and primates. You can only contract the virus through exposure to the blood, organs or bodily secretions of infected individuals or animals; the virus cannot be passed on merely by being in the same vicinity as someone with the disease as it is not airborne.
Ebola outbreaks are believed to originate from contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected animals, which can occur when hunters come into contact with infected dead animals found lying in the rainforest, or when handling the raw meat of infected animals. Once a person in a community contracts the disease, the Ebola virus can spread to other individuals.
Infection occurs from direct contact (through broken skin or the eyes, mouth and nose) with blood, or other bodily fluids (including saliva, urine, stool and semen) of infected individuals. Ebola can also be contracted through direct contact with items contaminated by a patient, such as soiled bed linen or used needles. Finally, the virus may also be passed on during burial rites in which mourners touch the body of an infected person.
Who is most at risk of infection?
Individuals such as family members and healthcare workers who are looking after infected patients are most at risk of being infected with the illness.
Where is the current Ebola outbreak?
In the past six months, Ebola outbreaks have occurred in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria.
How many cases of Ebola have been diagnosed in recent months?
From February to late August 2014, there were just over 3062 suspected cases of the Ebola virus and almost 1560 deaths.
Will the Ebola virus spread to other regions in Africa?
Although it cannot be said for certain whether the disease will spread beyond West Africa, strict measures are in place to prevent the spread of Ebola at many international airports and which have direct flights into the region or are major air travel hubs. These measures include health screening for symptoms of the disease. Because a high temperature is one of the first indicators of Ebola, thermal scanners are being used at airports in South Africa and other countries to detect high fevers in passengers from infected countries.
What is the treatment for Ebola?
There is currently no cure for Ebola, so treatment is limited to supportive therapy. Medical professionals can only manage a patient's symptoms, through balancing their fluids and electrolytes, maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure and treating patients for any other infections.
Is it safe to travel during Ebola outbreaks?
The risk of infection with the Ebola virus is extremely low, even for travellers visiting areas where cases of Ebola have been reported. This is because contraction of the virus occurs through direct contact with the blood, secretions, bodily fluids or organs of infected individuals or animals (living or dead), which is highly unlikely for the average traveller.
It is also important to note that, after contracting Ebola, it can take up to 21 days to show symptoms of the disease, although 8 to 10 days is more common. Until a person exhibits symptoms, they are not contagious, so you don't need to be concerned about getting the virus from apparently healthy individuals. There is also low risk of infection in the early stages of the illness.
What is the South African government doing about Ebola?
Although South Africa is a low-risk country, we are well prepared for cases of Ebola crossing our border. The Department of Health has enhanced surveillance and distributed guidelines to all hospitals in public and private sectors in the country. Certain health facilities have been designated for the treatment of patients and been given personal protective equipment. Training has been conducted, outbreak response teams have been activated and a hotline for clinicians has been set up through the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
For travellers coming from high-risk countries (Liberia, New Guinea and Sierra Leone), the South African government has issued a total travel ban for all non-citizens, unless the travel is considered absolutely essential. South African citizens are requested to delay their travel to these areas unless it is absolutely essential for them to travel. A stricter screening process will be applied to South African citizens returning from high-risk countries. Go to www.health.gov.za for updates on measures being taken by the South African Department of Health.
What can you do to prevent getting infected with Ebola?
Although the risks of getting infected with Ebola are very low, it is still important to take precautions as there is no vaccine or cure for the disease and 50% to 90% of diagnosed Ebola cases are fatal.
Travellers should take note of the following:
0860 00 4367 (Call Centre) [email protected] More Contacts >