Written By: Shraddha Rupavate | Published : November 4, 2014 7:26 PM IST
From imposing mandatory quarantines and restricting travel from affected areas to the possibility of an air-borne Ebola infection and analysing the risk of individual countries being affected by the deadly disease, websites are over-flowing with information about the deadly disease ever since it has been declared an international emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO). While staying updated about the disease is necessary, too much information at times can lead to panic. So, here are some essential facts you must know about Ebola
On-going outbreak is the worst so far: The situation report released by World Health Organisation on October 29 shows that the total number of cases (confirmed, probable and suspected) of Ebola virus disease (EVD) have reached 13,703. Apart from Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, suspected and confirmed cases were reported in the U.S, Mali and Spain.
With 4,920 deaths reported so far, the total number of death cases are about to cross the mark of 5,000. The report mentions that all districts of Sierra Leone and Liberia have been affected. Here's the detailed report:
Liberia- 6535 cases, 2413 deaths
Sierra Leone: 5235 cases, 1500 deaths
Guinea - 1906 cases, 997 deaths
Symptoms may take about 21 days following infection: Once a person gets infected, he/she may develop the disease in 2-21 days, depending on the severity of infection. This is called the incubation period or the time between exposure to the virus and development of the disease, the virus attacks the immunity. However, unless the person shows any symptoms he/she poses a lower risk of transmitting the virus through direct contact. It's only after the symptoms develop that an infected person be declared at high-risk of trnsmission.
High fever is a key symptom of the disease: High fever, with temperature about 38.6 C or 101.5 F, is a key symptom of Ebola, and is currently used as a marker for screening travellers from Ebola-hit nations. Apart from fever, headache, sore throat, stomach are a few symptoms that can be confused with other common infections. denies rumours
It spreads only through direct contact with infectious body fluids: The virus only spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids including saliva, blood, semen, sweat etc. Although scientists have assessed the possibility of mutation causing the virus to become air-borne, there is no evidence that it spreads through air.
There has been no confirmed case in India: So far suspected Ebola cases have been reported in Mumbai, West Bengal and Manipur. But none of them were confirmed to carry the infection.
States have strengthened screening measures at international airports: The state government recently through a review meeting decided to tighten screening measures for Ebola virus disease at international airports in Maharashtra, including Mumbai. Further, to ensure that isolation facilities have been maintained as per the recommended guidelines, State health officials will be inspecting them at random for preparedness.
Apart from Mumbai, screening measures at Delhi, Kolkata, Kerela and Goa airports have been strengthened. In Delhi, so far, 1,200 passengers suspected with the disease and about 485 of them have been quarantined. At Kolkata airport, around 150 travellers have been screened at the airport.
Experimental drugs under development: The fact that there is no licensed drug or vaccine against Ebola virus, is what makes the disease so deadly. The U.S. experimental drug Ebola drug ZMapp cured two American doctors infected with Ebola virus earlier. Although the drug has potential to contain the outbreak, the manufacturers said that the bulk production of the drug may take some time. Japan's Fujifilm Holdings Corp's subsidiary Toyama Chemicals, later offered its anti-influenza drug Avigan (generic name Favipiravir) showed positive results in studies on mice infected with Ebola Zaire virus. Later, a French nurse diagnosed with Ebola was confirmed to recover completely after taking the drug. Both the drugs are not yet approved.
Ebola vaccine on the way: The World Health Organisation (WHO) approved clinical trial for Ebola vaccine began on November 1 in Switzerland American health workers who were infected in Liberia, Dr. Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, are being treated with a drug that's still under study. Earlier NIAD/GSK vaccine, developed by GlaxoSmithKline and in Britain has already being tested on volunteers in the US, Britain and Mali.
Image source: Getty images
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