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Written By: Editorial Team | Published : October 16, 2014 1:10 PM IST
Ebola is spreading quickly and with the US also being hit, other countries are preparing to tackle the virus as a preemptive measure. In the same vein, a recent report said that the Pakistan government had decided to step up measures to prevent the spread of Ebola virus in the country. At a meeting presided over by Minister of National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, the government and World Health Organisation (WHO) devised a strategy to prevent the spread of Ebola in Pakistan, Dawn online reported.
It has been decided that scanning would be done at entry points like airports and training sessions would be arranged for health officials. People would also be made aware of the disease. The government has decided to set up isolation rooms in hospitals for Ebola patients. (Read: What is the Ebola virus disease survival rate?)
'We have taken measures to ensure capacity-building of the health officials in identifying suspected cases and managing infected people,' Tarar said. WHO also committed to provide extensive training to the hospital staff. Although the virus is not endemic in Pakistan, people coming from West Africa can bring it here, especially officials of the Pakistani peace missions stationed in the African countries, officials said. (Read: 10 reasons that make the Ebola virus deadly for humans)
Why Ebola virus is mutating rapidly?
A recent research related to the Ebola virus disease (EVD) states that the Ebola virus is rapidly mutating, making it difficult to diagnose and treat. A study conducted on the initial patients being infected with the virus in Sierra Leone revealed more than 400 genetic modifications of the Ebola virus, which might prove detrimental for the ongoing treatment measures but also to the vaccines that are under clinical trials for future treatment of the Ebola virus.
The Researchers at the Broad Institute in Massachusetts and Harvard University warn that the Ebola virus is constantly undergoing mutation. The findings show that the future treatment options including vaccines as well as diagnosing of the disease will be very difficult and less effective as mutations will continue. As of now, the researchers have analysed around 99 Ebola viral genomes. Since the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in March, more than 1550 people have died of the Ebola virus disease. Earlier in August (24th), a new viral strain of the Ebola virus different from the one being observed in West Africa was detected in those from Democratic Republic of Congo, posing threat to million of lives all over the world. Read more about Ebola virus is mutating rapidly say scientists
With inputs from IANS
Photo source: Getty images
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