This is a good time to sit back and thoroughly study Ebola prevention - especially now that the initial wave of infection has been controlled and preventive efforts are at the highest priority. The recent outbreak of Ebola has been proclaimed as the largest outbreak in history by the World Health Organisation (WHO) - the seriousness of the threat further magnified by its being labelled an international emergency. The reason Ebola has been labelled as an international emergency is that it is rapidly fatal, with a death rate of 70 - 90%. Ebola is a severe haemorrhagic illness caused by the Ebola virus, a Filovirus, leading to rapidly progressive organ failure and ultimately death. It is highly infectious and spread through direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, semen, etc. of an infected person, and by contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, including linen soiled by bodily fluids from an infected person. Interestingly, it is relatively easy to prevent, as it can be easily eliminated with heat, alcohol-based products, and bleach or bleaching powder. This makes prevention the crux of all containment measures and this is particularly true for healthcare professionals who are at high risk for direct contact with those infected by this deadly virus.
Doctors working in Ebola-endemic areas can avoid this deadly infection by strictly following preventive measures as elucidated by the WHO. The following guidelines for doctors and other healthcare workers can play a major role in preventing this deadly infection:
Finally, it can be said that early detection and prevention is almost the only cure when it comes to Ebola, as no specific vaccine or medicine has been proven to be effective against Ebola. Healthcare professionals, particularly doctors should be extra cautious while handling patients infected with this deadly virus, while also creating awareness about this looming threat.
The following are National Guidelines/Procedures for prevention, control and management of Ebola Virus Disease:
Infection Control in Screening Ebola Suspected Cases and Contacts in Health Facilities – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/33/infection-control-in-screening-ebola-suspected-cases-and-contacts-in-health-facilities
Clinical Guideline: Screening for Ebola Virus Disease in Health Facilities – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/1/43/screening-for-ebola-virus-disease-in-health-facilities
Standard Operating Procedures for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) screening at Points of Entry – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/30/standard-operating-procedures-for-ebola-virus-disease-evd-screening-at-points-of-entry
Screening suspected patients for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in healthcare facilities Standard Operating Procedure – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/32/screening-suspected-patients-for-ebola-virus-disease-evd-in-healthcare-facilities-standard-operating-procedure
Standard Operating Procedures for Contact Tracing and Follow up during Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/34/standard-operating-procedures-for-contact-tracing-and-follow-up-during-ebola-virus-disease-outbreak
Interim Infection Control Recommendations for Care of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Filovirus (Ebola, Marburg) Haemorrhagic Fever – by WHO http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/35/interim-infection-control-recommendations-for-care-of-patients-with-suspected-or-confirmed-filovirus-ebola-marburg-haemorrhagic-fever
Standard Operating Procedures for Ebola Virus Disease Contact’s self-care – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/36/standard-operating-procedures-for-ebola-virus-disease-contact-s-self-care
Standard Operating Procedure for Collecting and Transporting Blood Samples from Suspect or
Confirmed Ebola Patient – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/37/standard-operating-procedure-for-collecting-and-transporting-blood-samples-from-suspect-or-confirmed-ebola-patient
Ebola Virus Disease Fact Sheet – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/38/ebola-virus-disease-fact-sheet
In-Home Precautions While Awaiting Ambulance Pickup Standard Operating Procedure – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/14/in-home-precautions-while-awaiting-ambulance-pickup-standard-operating-procedure
Documents for Institutions:
Ebola Virus Disease Risk Assessment for Childcare, Schools and Educational Settings http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/40/ebola-virus-disease-risk-assessment-for-childcare-schools-and-educational-settings
Ebola Virus Disease Risk Assessment for Hotel Settings http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/41/ebola-virus-disease-risk-assessment-for-hotel-settings
Ebola Virus Disease Risk Assessment for Mortuary Settings – By FMoH http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/42/ebola-virus-disease-risk-assessment-for-mortuary-settings
Ebola Virus Disease Risk Assessment for Workplace Settings http://healthfolk.net/documents/29/39/ebola-virus-disease-risk-assessment-for-workplace-settings
Other relevant resources for doctors and health workers:
NIGERIA - Ebola Virus Information Unit http://www.health.gov.ng/ebolainfo/
US
Infection Control for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in the African Health Care Setting http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/abroad/pdf/african-healthcare-setting-vhf.pdf
Infection Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers in the African Healthcare Setting http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/abroad/vhf-manual.html
Prevention of Ebola and Marburg virus infections http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ebola-virus/basics/prevention/con-20031241
UK - Ebola virus disease: clinical management and guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/ebola-virus-disease-clinical-management-and-guidance
India - Clinical Case Management Guidelines of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) http://www.ncdc.gov.in/writereaddata/linkimages/clncl_case_mngmnt_ebola2014604494275.pdf
Canada
Information for Health Professionals http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/id-mi/vhf-fvh/ebola-professionals-professionnels-eng.php
Ebola Clinical Care Guidelines http://www.ammi.ca/media/69846/Ebola%20Clinical%20Care%20Guidelines%202%20Sep%202014.pdf
WHO
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/
Fact Sheets on Ebola Virus Disease http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
South Africa - Infection control guidelines for Management of suspected or confirmed Ebola virus disease http://www.moh.gov.sa/CCC/StaffRegulations/Ebola/Documents/FinalEVDIPCGuidelines08.08.2014.pdf
Medbox Ebola toolbox http://www.medbox.org/ebola-toolbox/listing
Collation of free communication materials for Ebola http://www.thehealthcompass.org/sbcc-Ebola
Ebola Forum for doctors http://healthfolk.net/forums/28/ebola-related
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