How to Fight an Ebola Outbreak

Medical professionals know that disease outbreaks, like earthquakes,
are not a question of if but when--so it only makes sense to plan
ahead. One minute you could be enjoying an exotic vacation, and the
next, you could be acting as point person in the battle against a devastating
epidemic of viral hemorrhagic fever.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Study Ebola basics before traveling to a region prone to outbreaks. First identified in humans about 25 years ago, the virus was named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near where it first appeared. It is believed to be carried by animals in the region--transmission to humans is most likely through contact with a diseased animal. Outbreaks have occurred in several countries in central Africa.

2. Familiarize yourself with Ebola symptoms. In its early stage, symptoms include fever, aches and weakness, making a specific diagnosis difficult. An accurate diagnosis is usually not possible until the disease progresses to include skin rashes, bleeding from all orifices, and kidney and liver failure. Death is usually brought on by the failure of vital organs such as the lungs or the heart.

3. Mobilize international medical resources to handle the outbreak. Notify the International Red Cross (icrc.org) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov). Distribute rubber gloves and surgical masks to anyone who might come into contact with an infected person.

4. Quarantine any person suspected of infection. Prevent exposure to any body fluids from an infected person. There is presently no cure or vaccine for Ebola, so preventing further infection is the only effective tool for managing an outbreak.

5. Maintain sanitary conditions. Ensure the proper disposal of sewage and medical waste. Disinfect reusable supplies and equipment, including gloves, thermometers, sheets, boots and clothing, with a bleach-and-water solution.

6. Make sure bodies are interred or cremated as soon as possible. Do not allow funeral rituals that bring mourners into contact with Ebola victims.

7. Maintain the victim's hydration and blood pressure. Treatment options are limited, but secondary conditions such as fever may respond to common medications such as ibuprofen.

8. Encourage your patients to maintain hope. Ebola is not always fatal. In past outbreaks, the mortality rate has fluctuated between 30 percent and 80 percent for all confirmed cases. Recent vaccine tests on monkeys are showing promise, and a deeper understanding of the virus is likely in the near future.

Tips & Warnings

• The World Health Organization (www.who.int), a component of the United Nations, is active around the world working to understand and control diseases like Ebola. Consider donating time or money to these efforts.
• Health-care workers are at risk while treating Ebola patients. Observe strict antiinfection protocols.
• Do not eat meat from monkeys and other primates in potentially Ebola-affected areas. Eating infected animals is a likely transmission route for the virus.

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