Ebola

Ebola became the center of world attention because of the epidemic that recently occurred. Outbreaks of this time was recorded as the highest in history by WHO. Until now, there has been no Ebola cases found in Indonesia. But vigilance must still be increased in order to avoid this deadly disease.



The disease is caused by a virus and can be fatal if not treated immediately. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 in Sudan and Congo. Experts suspect that the Ebola virus has been living in the body of fruit bats or Flying-Fox. The virus then spread to other animals and the possibility of human infection through blood when they clean the blood of game animals that have been contaminated.

The spread of Ebola Virus
Ebola is a deadly disease caused by a virus and is spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids such as urine, feces, saliva and semen. In this case, 'direct contact' means the blood or other body fluids such as saliva or nasal secretions of patients were directly touching the nose, eyes, mouth, or an open wound someone.

Groups of people at high risk of contracting the virus is generally a family who live with the patient or their care providers such as medical officer. If anyone in your family who is suspected of having Ebola, you should not take care of themselves at home and immediately took him to hospital. During the treatment, Ebola patients will undergo close monitoring and routine laboratory tests because they can transmit the disease during blood and body fluids still contain viruses.

Contaminated the surrounding environment is also a risk of spreading the Ebola virus disease. For example, clothing, sheets, and syringes former patients. Therefore, medical personnel caring for Ebola patients need to increase awareness and maximize protection used.

Ebola virus can survive outside the body, including the skin of the patient. Therefore, tradition requires burial family or close friends for bathing the corpse also potentially transmit Ebola virus. Family and medical personnel are advised to handle the bodies of Ebola patients with maximum protection. Funeral process is best left to those trained in handling this type of case.

Unlike in the case of the flu or chicken pox when saliva is in the air can transmit the virus to another person, body fluids of Ebola patients need direct contact to spread. Droplets of saliva or mucus Ebola patients who unintentionally sneezing or coughing only can transmit the virus if exposed to the nose, eyes, mouth, and open wounds someone. Therefore, Ebola transmission through coughing or sneezing are not common.

Although rare, Ebola infections can also occur in public places other than in a hospital such as airports, restaurants, schools, and offices.

Symptoms of Ebola
The incubation period, ie the time between the entry of the virus into the body until the first symptoms appear, the disease Ebola is approximately 2-21 days. But people with Ebola do not transmit the virus before showing symptoms. Ebola virus transmission will only start to occur at the time the symptoms appear. Early symptoms that indicate this disease include:

Fever attacks come suddenly.
Headache.
Feeling very weak.
Pain in the muscles and joints.
Sore throat.
Once the symptoms above, will appear advanced symptoms that include:

Vomiting.
Rashes.
Impaired liver function and kidney.
Bleeding in the body which sometimes also go out through the mouth, nose, eyes, or ears.
Ebola virus can spread rapidly and very deadly, so avoid contact direct contact with patients. If you suspect you or your family members infected with Ebola virus, see your doctor for a checkup.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Ebola
Including Ebola disease difficult to detect because the initial symptoms are similar to other diseases, such as meningitis and malaria. Diagnosis of infection from the virus can only be confirmed through laboratory tests.

To confirm the diagnosis, your doctor may recommend a special examination of the Ebola virus through blood and body fluids. In addition to virus tests, the results of blood tests are also usually indicate the number of white blood cells and platelets are low, as well as increased levels of liver enzymes.

After positively diagnosed with Ebola, patients will undergo intensive treatment in the hospital. Medical care quickly and accurately is a major key in increasing the possibility of patient safety.

Not found drugs to combat Ebola virus. But continued research to find effective vaccines and drugs to deal with this disease.

The treatment is carried out only purpose is to support the patient's immune response against the virus. Patients generally will receive intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration. During the body fight Ebola disease, blood pressure, oxygen levels in the blood, as well as the function of the patient's organs to be preserved as much as possible.

Step Preventing the spread of Ebola Virus
The initial transmission of the Ebola virus is through contact with infected animals that spread occurs directly with patients. There are several steps you can take to prevent and limit the spread of the virus.

Finding out about the Ebola virus as much as possible.
If there are family members or people around you who may be infected with Ebola, immediately take them to undergo examination and treatment in hospital.
When to visit patients in hospital or being around people, use protection as safe as possible. For example, by wearing a mask, gloves, and protective clothing and eyewear.
Always wash your hands, especially after direct contact with the patient's skin. Included also with blood, body fluids, and objects around the patient.
The bodies of Ebola patients should be treated with the utmost protection and by those who are trained in handling this type of case.
Avoid traveling to areas with high Ebola cases such as West Africa.
If you are in the area at risk of transmitting Ebola, avoid contact with animals that have the potential to pass it. Eg fruit bats or Flying-Fox and monkeys.
Cooking meat until completely cooked before consumption.
Especially for medical personnel, there are some preventative measures that should be taken to minimize the risk of contracting Ebola. Among others:

Be careful when handling blood, body fluids, catheters, as well as when installing infusion patients.
Use a maximum protection, for example by wearing a mask, gloves, and protective clothing and goggles.
Always wash your hands, especially after direct contact with the patient's skin. Including blood, body fluids, and objects around the patient.
Sterilize medical equipment before reuse.
Dispose of disposable medical equipment, such as syringes, carefully.
Isolate patients suspected of having Ebola or Ebola in a special room and limit the number of visitors to a minimum.