All eight suspected cases of the Ebola Virus Disease in Ghana have proved negative,\u00a0 but are still being monitored,\u00a0 to ensure that nothing is left to chance, Dr Badu Sakordie,\u00a0 Head of Disease Surveillance of the Ghana Health Service, has disclosed.<\/p>\n
“Even though Ghana has not recorded a case,\u00a0 it will\u00a0 remain vigilant, ” he said.<\/p>\n
With high fatality of 25 to 95 percent, Ebola is one of the world\u2019s most virulent diseases,\u00a0 and is transmitted to humans from wild animals and between human\u2019s direct contact with blood, faecal matter, sweat,\u00a0 or by sexual contact and the unprotected handling of contaminated corpse.<\/p>\n
Fruit bats are natural hosts for Ebola.<\/p>\n
Symptoms of Ebola include severe fever, muscle pain vomiting, diarrhea and weakness,\u00a0 and in some cases, Ebola can cause key human organs to shut down, leading to unstoppable bleeding.<\/p>\n
Interacting with the Media in Accra, Dr Sarkodie recounted that\u00a0 the disease was first discovered in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976,\u00a0 but has since not been detected in people in West Africa.<\/p>\n
For this reason, Dr Sakordie advised that,\u00a0 Ghana needs to protect itself from neighbouring countries,\u00a0 but care should be taken so that international regulations are not breached due to undue restrictions.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that\u00a0 bats in Ghana were not the fruits-eating ones that are carriers of the disease,\u00a0 however,\u00a0 some in the Brong-Ahafo Region have antigens,\u00a0 which means that they have one time or the other been carriers of the disease, but their immune system was able to overcome the virus.<\/p>\n
In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelopes and porcupines,\u00a0 found dead or ill in the rain forest.<\/p>\n
Direct physical contact with body fluids of infected persons,\u00a0 like blood, saliva, stool,\u00a0 urine, and soiled linen.<\/p>\n
Burial ceremonies where mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person,\u00a0 can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola.<\/p>\n
Dr Sakordie said measures to be taken to prevent Ebola Virus Disease include,\u00a0 public education to raise awareness of the risk factors of Ebola infection,\u00a0 and the protective measures individuals can take to prevent and reduce human infection and death, adding that this was crucial as there was no vaccine or medicine for the disease.<\/p>\n
He advised persons suspected to be suffering from Ebola should be taken to the nearest health units immediately,\u00a0 and persons who have died from Ebola should be promptly and safely buried under strict supervision of health personnel.<\/p>\n
According to him,\u00a0 people should resort to the use of gloves or improvise with polythene when necessary if handling persons suspected to have symptoms of the disease.<\/p>\n
Other measures include reporting of any suspected cases of Ebola to the nearest health unit immediately, washing hands with soap and water after handling a patient,\u00a0 or the body of a person who has died of Ebola<\/p>\n
Avoid washing of hands from a common bowl during funeral rites and other public gatherings, providing information to people about the nature of the disease, its spread, and how it can be prevented.<\/p>\n
He explained that a National Technical Coordinating Committee meeting has developed\u00a0 comprehensive preparedness and response plans for Ebola,\u00a0 and is working with WHO Country Representative for technical support and advice.<\/p>\n
Fact Sheet on Ebola, and a surveillance and interim Infection Control Recommendations by WHO have been sent to all Regional Directors of Health Services,\u00a0 in addition to alert messages\u00a0 to regions, districts and health facilities.<\/p>\n
The Ebola virus has already claimed more than 80 lives in Guinea alone. It has also killed more than five people in Liberia.<\/p>\n
As at May 12, a total of 248 suspected cases,\u00a0 including 171 deaths (case fatality ratio had been reported from six districts including Conakry the capital of Guinea.<\/p>\n
Since the update, five new cases have been confirmed but no death has been recorded with a total of 480 under follow-up.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Source: GNA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
All eight suspected cases of the Ebola Virus Disease in Ghana have proved negative,\u00a0 but are still being monitored,\u00a0 to ensure that nothing is left to chance, Dr Badu Sakordie,\u00a0 Head of Disease Surveillance of the Ghana Health Service, has disclosed. “Even though Ghana has not recorded a case,\u00a0 it will\u00a0 remain vigilant, ” he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":11260,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[],"tags":[15],"yoast_head":"\n