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Ebola.. Resounding the drums of prevention ...

 What we should do to prevent another epidemic.


The drums of Ebola has started to sound in Africa again. This time, Ebola cases have been confirmed in DR-Congo.
While we yet wonder where and when this started, the answer to this may not be found on time, but we definitely know some facts about Ebola.

  1.  Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever and it is very deadly. It can kill in a few days.
  2.  It can easily spread through contact with body fluids of an infected person. e.g vomit, urine, faeces.
  3. Ebola is yet to have a cure.
  4. It can also spread through panic. A community-wide panic increases the risk of transmission of Ebola.
  5. There has been a vaccine trial which was declared to be successful. (It means we would soon be able to prevent people from getting infected)

If you’re thinking about what you can do to stay safe and keep yourself from getting infected in case you come near a ‘not yet diagnosed’ case, then we got you covered.

  1. Bring back our hand washing practice. It is a life saver.
  2.  Desist from eating bush meat. (At least for now)
  3. Report any suspected case of Ebola to the nearest hospital.
  4. In an Ebola epidemic, do not attempt to treat anybody who has high fever, vomiting and stooling. Just leave that to the experts, don’t treat yourself.
  5. W.H.O has not recommended any travel or trade restrictions yet.

What should the country’s health system do?

  1. Epidemic preparedness and response should be activated.
  2. All air passengers from endemic areas should be screened.
  3. Health workers should protect themselves.
  4. The health system should educate the people on how to prevent Ebola.

Myths you should throw out now…


  1. Drinking or bathing with salt water won’t prevent you from Ebola
  2. Stigmatization will not help prevent spread, it will only keep a suspected person away from seeking care.
  3. Vegetables, and bitter leaf are not any proven cure for Ebola, they can only strengthen your immunity, but do not offer any direct protection.

We hope you would share this page with someone. You would be saving lives by doing so.

Kindly leave your comments and questions and do remember to keep up all the recommended preventive practices.

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