Written By: Nirmalya Dutta | Published : September 5, 2014 5:45 PM IST
ATLANTA, GA AUGUST 21: Dr. Kent Brantly (front) gets hugs from the medical team at Emory Hospital during a press conference announcing his release from the hospital on August 21, 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Brantly thanked the medical team, his family and Samaritan's purse for their help in his recovery. Dr. Brantly and another patient, Nancy Writebol, were released from Emory Hospital after receiving treatment for Ebola that they both contracted while working as medical missionaries in Liberia. (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)
A US doctor infected with the Ebola virus is being flown a Nebraska hospital for treatment. The doctor got the virus in Liberia. Dr Rick Sacra is expected to arrive at the hospital today and his treatment will begin in the hospital's 10-bed special isolation unit. It's still unclear how Sacra got infected with the virus that's killed 1,900 people as he wasn't actually involved in the treatment of Ebola patients but was instead responsible for delivering babies! He is the third US doctor to be infected with Ebola. The first two, Dr Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, have since recovered from the Ebola virus disease.
Dr Kent Brantly recently described the severity of the epidemic in a piece for Time: 'Ebola has changed everything in West Africa. We cannot sit back and say, 'Oh, those poor people.' We must think outside the box and find ways to help. People are fearful of isolation units because 'that is where you go to die.' They stay home instead and infect their families. Perhaps we need to find a way to provide safe home care that protects the caregivers. The national governments of West Africa are overwhelmed. They are not capable of handling this outbreak with simply a little help from some NGOs. This is a global problem and it requires the action of national governments around the world. We must take action to stop it now.'
Why don't we have a cure for ebola yet?
Writing for HuffingtonPost, Christopher F. Basler, PhD, Professor of Microbiology writes: 'A cure for Ebola has still not been found partly because large pharmaceutical companies have been reluctant to invest in a drug with a small market size. But fortunately, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Defense invested a lot of money in basic research and drug and vaccine development for these viruses over the past 10 to 15 years, and clearly that's paid off. Now there are a number of candidate vaccines and therapies that work in animals. I think that's very significant progress.'
Here are some tips to prevent Ebola infection:
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. (Read: Has the Ebola virus really come to India?)
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. (Read: Ebola Facts: Top 7 myths busted)
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:5 reasons the ebola virus should never come to India)
Treat injuries: Open wounds and injuries can give the virus an opportunity to enter the body. Therefore, minor cuts and bleeding injuries should be kept covered and be treated at once. Read: Ebola Virus Travel Tips Precautions you should take
Here are 9 warning symptoms of Ebola that you should know
Image source: Getty images
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