Ebola
How you can help prevent it
West Africa
The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest Ebola outbreak in history and the first Ebola outbreak in West Africa. This outbreak is the first Ebola epidemic the world has ever known. As of November 12th, 2014, all confirmed Ebola patients in the US have been discharged from the hospital. Here's how you can help keep it that way.
Causes and Symptoms
Ebola can be contracted a number of ways, such as the exchange of blood or bodily fluids with a person currently infected with the virus, contact with objects that have been contaminated with the virus, and contact with infected fruit bats or apes.
Here's what to look for:
- Fever
- Fatigue
- Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Muscle pain/weakness
- Unexplained hemorrhages
When returning from West Africa, if you begin to notice any of these symptoms, or have come in contact with any of the listed contraction agents, please seek out professional medical attention immediately.
What You Need to Know About Ebola
When visiting a hospital for care of ebola, here's what to expect:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Urinalysis
- Vital signs every 4 hours
- Daily weighing
Prevention
The prevention of Ebola can easily occur in four steps.
- Avoid contact with a person infected with Ebola
- Avoid contact with any of their belongings
- Cleanse things with bleach
- Practice exemplary hygiene