WHO Declares Ebola Outbreak in Congo and Uganda a Public Health Emergency

Ebola in India: The WHO has declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency with over 300 cases and 88 deaths. Indian health experts assure no need for panic, emphasizing Ebola's direct contact spread, unlike COVID-19, while stressing vigilance and early detection. There are two vaccines for Ebola.

Ebola India: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the Ebola virus outbreak in Congo and Uganda as a public health emergency of international concern after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths. As health experts have sounded an alert for the Ebola outbreak, Indian Health Ministry has said no Ebola cases have ever been reported in India since 2014, except one international traveller who tested positive in the same year. The Indian health experts said there is no need to panic as Ebola does not spread like Covid-19, though vigilance and early detection remain crucial.

ALSO READ: Ebola outbreak declared emergency of international concern

How does Ebola spread?

Former AIIMS director Dr Randeep Guleria told Times of India that Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids, blood, vomit, secretions or contaminated material. It is different from Covid-19 which spreads through routine droplet transmission. According to the WHO, Ebola can spread in the following ways:

-The virus can get into the human population when people have close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

-People can get infected with the virus from another person by direct contact

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-You can get infected with Ebola virus if you are in direct contact with:

the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola disease; and

objects or surfaces that have been contaminated with body fluids (like blood, feces, vomit) from a person sick with the disease or who has died from the disease.

-Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of a person who has died can also contribute to the transmission of Ebola disease.

People cannot transmit the disease before they have symptoms, and they remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus, the WHO said.

Ebola outbreak: Signs and symptoms

In the Ebola outbreak, the incubation period — the time between getting infected and the appearance of symptoms — can range from 2 to 21 days. The symptoms can be sudden and include:

fever

fatigue

malaise

muscle pain

headache and sore throat.

These are followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain rash, and symptoms of impaired kidney and liver functions. Some patients may develop internal and external bleeding, including blood in vomit and faeces, bleeding from the nose, gums and vagina.

Ebola disease survivors may suffer from long-term complications, such as:

Tiredness

Headaches

Muscle and joint pain

Eye and vision problems (blurry vision, pain, redness, light sensitivity)

Weight gain

Stomach pain or loss of appetite

Ebola prevention tips

You can help protect yourself from getting Ebola by:

Avoiding contact with body fluids and tissues of people and animals (dead or alive) who may have Ebola

Avoiding sexual intercourse entirely or using condoms until tests confirm you no longer have Ebola in your semen

Isolating from others if you have Ebola

Not eating wild animal meat

Not touching the body fluids of anyone with Ebola and washing your hands after contact, even if you wear gloves

Not traveling to areas where there’s an Ebola outbreak

Using PPE when caring for someone with Ebola

Ebola vaccines

Two vaccines are approved: Ervebo (Merck & Co.) and Zabdeno and Mvabea (Janssen Pharmaceutica). Ervebo vaccine is recommended as part of the outbreak response.

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