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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 13, 2014 1:39 PM IST
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the Ebola virus outbreak as a major threat to the country's borders and has ordered screenings at all crossings. 'As part of the effort to defend its borders, Israel is preparing to stop, as much as possible, the entry of Ebola patients,' Xinhua quoted Netanyahu as saying at a meeting on Sunday. (Read: What is the Ebola incubation period?)
Netanyahu has instructed customs and border protection personnel to question all travellers arriving in Israel who have been in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. In addition, informational signs about Ebola in Hebrew, English, French and Arabic have been placed at border crossings, the prime minister's Office said in a statement. The new entry screening will apply to all airports, land crossings and seaports, the statement said. (Read: What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?)
So far, only one individual suspected of having been infected with Ebola has entered Israel. A 28-year-old Nigerian health worker was admitted in a Jerusalem hospital last week for fever and placed in isolation while being tested for possible Ebola. (Read: Ebola virus is mutating rapidly say scientists)
How the Ebola virus spreads in humans?
The recent Ebola outbreak has been considered as an international emergency by the WHO due to the havoc it has created worldwide. The virus has claimed many innocent lives and is posing to be the toughest challenge in the world of medicine and science till date, with no proven cure in place or a vaccination to prevent the outspread of the epidemic. However, recent studies have shown some success in treating the virus with experimental drugs. While no one yet knows the exact way how this notorious virus got into the human body, thereby attacking the immune system and claiming lives, here are ways in which it can spread across the human race.
It spreads through infected body fluids: Ebola spreads from one infected person to the other through direct contact of the skin and other bodily fluids. The virus is present in the body fluids of an infected person which includes blood, semen, sweat, urine, saliva, feaces, vomit, etc. If a healthy person comes in contact with the infected body fluids that enters his system through open wounds, blood transfusions or through the eyes, ears, mouth, nostrils, genital area, it can infect an individual within a span of two to 21 days depending on the severity of the viral attack. Having unsafe sex with an infected person also can lead to the viral infection.
It can spread through direct skin to skin contact: One major reason why healthcare workers and immediate family members of infected Ebola victims were falling prey to the same in the infected areas is due to direct skin to skin contact with the patients. This is because the virus can be easily transmitted through an exchange of bodily fluids like sweat, saliva, etc. However, remember the virus would not spread only through casual contact. There has to be a medium for the transmission to take place and in case of a skin-to-skin contact it is either sweat, saliva, blood or other body fluids. It is advisable to take proper precautions if you need to be around a victim at any given point of time. Using protective equipment like gloves, masks and protective units is recommended to prevent the virus from spreading to a healthy individual. Read more about How the Ebola virus spreads in humans
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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