Unicef says misconceptions fuel Ebola outbreak in West Africa

Widespread misconception, resistance, denial and occasional hostility in some communities were considerably complicating the humanitarian response to contain the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Unicef said Friday. As the Ebola-related toll rises above 500 in West Africa, the UN agency and its partners were expanding their activities across the region to halt the spread of the disease by combating rumours, fears and misconceptions, Xinhua reported.

'Rumours and denial were fueling the spread of Ebola and putting even more lives at risk,' said Manuel Fontaine, Unicef's regional director for West and Central Africa. He noted some people still deny that the disease was real and others believed that it did not require treatment. More than 850 cases were reported by the WHO in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. This is first-ever Ebola outbreak in West Africa that has become a major regional threat, unprecedented in duration and in scale, Fontaine said. 'The response goes beyond medical care,' Fontaine said.

'If we were to break the chain of Ebola transmission, it is crucial to combat the fear surrounding it and earn the trust of communities,' the official added. Unicef was stepping up its efforts across Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Mali and Gambia to prevent further spread of the virus, through mobile messaging and ongoing TV, radio and print mass traditional and non-traditional communication campaigns, Fontaine elaborated. (Read: Ebola bug's secret mechanism revealed)

What are the symptoms?

The incubation period (or the time between when the actual infection takes place to the time when a person sees symptoms of this condition) for this disease is about one week. After this period a person will commonly see the signs that are considered as 'early symptoms'. According to Dr Ratan,the early symptoms include fever, rashes, headache, nausea, vomiting and stomach pain. Apart from that a person may also experience symptoms like pain in the lower back, arthritis like pain all over the body, diarrhea and a sore throat.

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

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