New Ebola Scare: How to avoid contacting dreaded disease
There has been understandable panic across Africa since World Health Organisation (WHO) announced a new outbreak of the dreaded Ebola disease in Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Federal Government has since put in place measures to prevent the disease from finding its way into Nigeria again.
However, as the saying goes, one can never be too careful.
Newsroom Nigeria has complied some preventive and cautionary measures that citizens can adopt to steer clear of the terminal disease.
1. Avoid buying or eating bush meat from non-trusted sources
Researchers have said that the disease is suspected to be borne out of some bush animals – particularly the meat of primates.
So, before you buy and eat that meat, be sure of its source. Or avoid it totally.
2. Avoid affected areas
So far, the outbreak has only been announced in Congo. If you are a tourist or have a reason to travel to the country, make sure to avoid the area of the new scare.
3. Avoid infected persons
Avoid contact with infected person’s body fluids and tissues, including blood, semen, vaginal secretions and saliva.
4. Ensure to practice careful hygiene
Wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid contact with blood and body fluids.
5. Wear protective clothing when around infected persons or area
If, for a reason, you have to be around infected persons, make sure to use disposable masks, gloves, goggles, and gowns, to be worn at all times around infected patients.
6. Seek medical help as soon as you notice any strange symptoms (familiarise with the symptoms)
Some of the symptoms of Ebola include: Fever, severe headache, fatigue, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, unexplained bleeding or bruising.
If you have visited a place near the outbreak region and you run a fever or body aches, contact medical personnel immediately.
7. Don’t evade hygienic measures put in public places
Don’t be too much in a haste to bypass hygienic measures put in place at various checkpoints and entrances into buildings.]
Use liquid hand wash and bowls of water placed at the gateways of schools and organisations and use available hand sanitizers before entering buildings.
Stay safe!
