Sierra Leone declares Ebola emergency

Sierra Leone's President Ernest Bai Koroma Thursday declared a public health emergency to curb the deadly Ebola virus disease outbreak, media reported. Koroma said that the epicentres of the outbreak would be quarantined and has asked the security forces to enforce all necessary measures, BBC reported.

According to the UN, 670 people in West Africa have died of Ebola since February -- of them, 224 in Sierra Leone. The doctor who led Sierra Leone's fight against Ebola too has died of the virus. Sheik Umar Khan, described by government officials as a 'national hero', was buried Thursday. (Read: Doctor who led the war against Ebola virus succumbs to the disease)

What is ebola?

The Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe condition caused by a virus from the Filoviridae family. Known to be a condition that is transmitted from animals to humans, this virus spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.

How can it be prevented?

According to Dr Ratan, 'There aren't any vaccinations available as of now, so basic hygiene is of importance and a must be followed in order to prevent the onset of the condition. Simple activities like washing your hands well, drinking water from a clean source, maintaining general hygiene and cooking your meat well, can all serve as precautionary measures. Apart from that people should avoid crowded places, or those that are known to have an outbreak. It is also important that if they notice any early symptoms, they should visit a doctor immediately.' Read more about Ebola virus causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention

With inputs from IANS

Photo source: Getty images

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