Latest Ebola News: South Africa at low risk of Ebola

An official state run airline in South Africa confirmed Wednesday that South Africa to be safe for all passengers planning to travel to the country, as the risk of getting infected by the virus is extremely low. There has been no case of virus in the country so far and it does not share land border with any of the Ebola-affected countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has therefore listed it under a low-risk category along with India and Europe.

With no case of Ebola virus disease reported so far, our country remains open and safe for all planning to visit,' South African Airways' India manager Sajid Khan assured prospective fliers in a statement.' As a precautionary measure the airport officials are screening passengers. The department has even installed thermal scanners at Tambo Johannesburg airport to screen inbound travellers having high body temperature. 'Suspected travellers, when identified, are quarantined and assessed at the medical facilities in the airport itself,' Khan noted. (Read: Ebola virus disease is it a hoax?)

Moreover, regular fumigation and disinfection of the aircraft is being carried out. The airport health officials have stepped up surveillance with the signs and symptoms of the virus to alert visitors. 'All foreign nationals testing positive for Ebola and all citizens of its affected nations are denied entry into South Africa,' Khan added. (Know what is the Ebola incubation period?)

'Just as health, well-being and safety of our passengers and crew are of utmost priority for us, we urge all tourists not to panic,' Khan said. 'The health department is working with WHO and the US centres for disease control and prevention to monitor the situation,' Khan said. (Read: 5 reasons the ebola virus should never come to India)

Early symptoms of Ebola

Fever: Increase in body temperature is the first defence mechanism that the body uses to kill any foreign particle invading the body. When Ebola infects the body, it causes a release of various compounds like cytokines and histamines that pass on the signals of increasing body temperature. In fact, Ebola virus disease is also called the Ebola haemorrhagic fever, where the temperature can go above 38.6 C or 101.5 F.

Headache: It is the most common symptom of Ebola infection after fever, present in almost 96 percent of the cases. Nausea and headache along with fever present a typical case of common cold and flu. At this stage, the symptoms can be confused with other common infections.

Stomach pain: A few viral particles invade the liver and starts destroying the hepatocytes. New virions start damaging the intestinal cells causing abdominal pain.

Drop in blood pressure: The cytokines and histamines released by the immune cells, soon after the entry of the virus in the body, increases the permeability of the cells lining the blood vessels. This causes leakage of water from the blood into the surrounding tissues and a sudden drop in blood pressure. (Here are 9 warning symptoms of Ebola you should watch out for)

(Here are 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection)

(Read more about Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention)

Take this 60-second Ebola quiz and save your life!

Source: IANS

Photo source: Getty images

You may also like to read:

• Ebola in India: 821 passengers being screened for Ebola
• Latest Ebola News: Scientists find proteins blocking the release of HIV, Ebola
• Ebola in India does my son have the disease (Disease Query)?

For more articles on diseases & conditions , visit our diseases & conditionssection. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And for health-related queries, visit our Questions and Answers section.