Ebola virus disease: Knowing the right way

(DTO) In the past few days, the radio and newspapers have been mentioning a virus called Ebola with its terrifyingly dangerous numbers, and many people are undoubtedly worried. But if you "know yourself and your enemy, you will win a hundred battles." With any disease, no matter how dangerous, once you understand its origins, prevention becomes simple and effective. There's no need to panic; we just need to understand it correctly to live proactively and safely.

Ebola is the name of a river in Africa (in the Democratic Republic of Congo), where a virus causing fever and hemorrhage was first discovered in 1976.

How does this virus damage the body?

Our bodies have a very strong defense system called the immune system. When this Ebola virus gets inside, it's unlike other common viruses.

Its cleverness lies in its ability to attack the very cells that protect the human body, then turn those cells into "breeding grounds" from which it replicates throughout the body.

Its greatest danger is that it causes severe inflammation and damage to the blood vessels. When blood vessels are no longer intact, blood leaks out, leading to internal bleeding and weakening of internal organs, resulting in death in as many as 50% of cases.

Transmission occurs only through direct contact.

Many people fear that simply standing close together or breathing the same air is enough to spread the virus. Rest assured, the Ebola virus is not transmitted through the air like influenza or COVID-19. It only spreads through "direct contact," which includes:

Through bodily fluids: We must come into direct contact (through open wounds on the skin, or through the eyes, nose, or mouth) with the blood, vomit, sweat, urine, or saliva of someone who is infected.

Through contaminated items: Sharing personal items, bedding, and clothing contaminated with bodily fluids from an infected person.

Through handling the deceased: In some parts of Africa, there is a custom of touching the body during the embalming process, which is a very strong route of transmission because the amount of virus in the deceased's body is highest at this time.

Through wildlife: Hunting, slaughtering, or eating the meat of animals living in the forest that are infected with the disease, such as bats, monkeys, and gibbons.

What are the signs and symptoms of this disease?

When the virus enters the body, it doesn't cause illness immediately but has a slow incubation period of a few days to 3 weeks. When it does manifest, the disease progresses quite rapidly through three stages:

Onset phase: The patient experiences a sudden high fever, severe headache, body aches, joint pain, and sore throat. This phase is easily mistaken for dengue fever or common malaria.

Full-blown stage: Symptoms begin to appear, along with persistent diarrhea, leading to dehydration and exhaustion.

Severe stage: Bruises appear on the skin, the patient experiences nosebleeds, bleeding gums, vomiting blood, or bloody stools.

Prevention is within reach:

The disease sounds terrible, but its transmission route is very clear. Therefore, prevention doesn't require anything complicated; it's all about simple daily habits:

1. Always eat cooked food and drink boiled water: Absolutely do not eat wild animal meat or meat of unknown origin. Thoroughly cooked food kills all viruses.

2. Keep your hands clean: The habit of washing your hands with soap under running water after returning home from outside, before eating, or after using the toilet is the simplest "protective charm" to help you stop all germs.

3. Avoid sharing personal items: Clothes, towels, toothbrushes… each person should use their own, ensuring cleanliness and safety.

4. Limit contact with suspected sources: If you know someone who has traveled from an affected area (such as Africa) and is showing symptoms like fever, direct them to the nearest medical facility immediately. Avoid self-care or close contact without protective equipment.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Uc

Source: https://baodongthap.vn/benh-do-vi-rut-ebola-biet-dung-a241083.html