Editorial Team
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 17, 2014 2:19 PM IST
A Denmark resident, suspected of being infected with the Ebola virus has tested negative according to media reports. The patient, a member of the aid organisation Doctors Without Borders, was hospitalised early on Thursday at Hvidovre Hospital in Copenhagen after an increase in temperature was noticed on Wednesday, Torben Mogensen, deputy director of the hospital, told Xinhua.
'The patient was treated in the same manner as if the person had Ebola. This means isolation and protection of staff,' he added. Mogensen said the patient was in West Africa helping fight the Ebola outbreak and returned to Denmark recently. This is the second suspected Ebola case received by the hospital in weeks. (Read: Are there any natural remedies for the virus?)
The Hvidovre Hospital, located on the western outskirts of Copenhagen, received a suspected Ebola case last week but the patient soon tested negative. The world is on high alert against Ebola with the disease killing nearly 4,500 people since March this year. There have been confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola in the US, Spain, Germany and Norway after people returned from affected countries in Africa. (Read: What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?)
How the Ebola virus spreads in humans?
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
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter.
