Written By: Pavitra Sampath | Published : October 18, 2014 11:31 AM IST
The Ebola virus is quickly spreading and it seems like India is not too far away from being attacked by the disease. But are we really ready to tackle the disease, that is so contagious that it spreads through sweat? Well, while Dr Harsh Vardhan says that the Indian Government is ready, others beg to differ.
According to an investigative report carried out by the Indian Express, Dr Harsh Vardhan's claims might not be true. The paper visited Delhi s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, that is going to be at the frontline of India's fight against Ebola, is on a normal day, packed to the brim with patients and their families. The hospital is usually so overfull that there are often ailing patients lying along its corridors. In order to prepare for the Ebola virus an isolation ward was opened on the first floor of the hospital. This is the same ward that was used to isolate patients suffering from the H1N1 flu.
But the hospital might not be quite read. The nurses working there have ready about the two nurses in the US who were infected with the virus and are scared that when it strikes India, they may be infected too. In the interview they said that they were not trained to contain such a portent virus. While the government has asked for 50,000 sets of haz-mat suits be distributed, the nurses say that they have not been trained to work in theses suits and have never worn goggles while working -- all issues that could render them defenseless against the virus.
What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe clinical condition that has threatened the entire world. It is caused by a virus of Filoviridae family. Although 5 types of Ebola virus have been identified, only four have been found to cause the disease in humans. The virus spreads easily through close contact with bodily fluids (like semen, saliva, blood and sweat), skin or objects (like needles or garments) of an infected person.
This disease that is highly infectious kills more than 90% of the individuals being infected with the virus (which means that the mortality rate of the Ebola disease is 90%). Hence only 10% of the individuals being infected with the virus survive i.e., the survival rate of the Ebola infection is only 10%. Read more about What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?
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