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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 16, 2014 12:36 PM IST
The Ebola virus has created havoc, and with thousands of people dead in West Africa and two people ailing in the US, it seems that this disease is quickly becoming harder to beat. What is really baffling is the fact that what was previously thought as 'good practice', might not be of much help. According to experts the deadly Ebola virus may take longer than 21 days to show symptoms in a person infected with the disease, says a study. One of the current tenets for minimising the risk of spreading the disease has been a 21-day quarantine period for individuals who might have been exposed to the virus. The study noted that there could be up to a 12 percent chance that someone could be infected even after the 21-day quarantine.
'While the 21-day quarantine value, currently used, may have arisen from reasonable interpretation of early outbreak data, this work suggests reconsideration is in order and that 21 days might not be sufficiently protective of public health,' said researcher Charles Haas, professor at the Drexel University in the US. (Read: How the Ebola virus spreads in humans)
The study looked into the murky basis for our knowledge about the virus, namely previous outbreaks in Africa in 1976 (Zaire) and 2000 (Uganda) as well as the first nine months of the current outbreak in West Africa. In both cases, data gathered by the World Health Organization (WHO) reported a 2-21 day incubation period for the virus - meaning that after 21 days if the individual has not presented symptoms they are likely not to be infected or contagious. (Read: What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?)
'Twenty-one days has been regarded as the appropriate quarantine period for holding individuals, potentially exposed to Ebola virus, to reduce risk of contagion, but there does not appear to be a systemic discussion of the basis for this period,' Haas concluded. The findings appeared in the journal PLOS Currents. (Read: 10 reasons that make the Ebola virus deadly for humans)
Here are some expert tips that can help you prevent the disease.
Educate yourself about Ebola: Knowing the symptoms, modes of transmission and preventive measures is the first step to prevent the spread of the disease. This information is especially important for those who are travelling to and from affected areas in West Africa.
Maintain sanitary conditions: Basic hygiene plays a very important role in preventing Ebola. The exact way by which the virus enters the body is still debatable but skin and eyes are suggested routes for viral entry. However, food and water may also serve as source of entry. So, simple acts like washing hands before eating and disinfecting surfaces and covering the mouth can help prevent the spread of the virus, especially in areas surrounding the areas of outbreak.
Avoid contact with blood and body fluids: Ebola virus spreads through all body fluids including blood, semen, saliva, sweat, urine, fecal matter and vomit of infected individuals. Healthcare workers and medical staff who are more likely to come in contact with infected body fluids, infected needles and first aid, should handle them with protective gear. Read more about 8 tips to prevent Ebola infection
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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