West Africa struggles with Ebola control

The worst outbreak of Ebola in history now forces Liberia to close most of its borders. Meanwhile, governments in many West African countries are struggling to stop the spread of Ebola, an extremely dangerous virus, with no preventive vaccine and currently also untreated.

Closing the national border for an infectious disease is a rare move, but it shows a serious level of concern by the government and health officials as the deadly outbreak has become increasingly serious. important. Up to the present time, Ebola virus has caused illness for at least 1,200 people and claimed the lives of 672 victims.

Liberia moved aggressively after the death of one of the country's top doctors last weekend, as well as reports that two US health workers working in Liberia were infected. .

Photo: aljazeera.com

Liberia President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has ordered, cross-border traffic can only take place at certain border gates, where authorities can monitor and test Ebola virus. Airports are still open but passengers will undergo similar strict screening procedures. Arik Air, West Africa's largest airline, canceled flights to Liberia from the end of last week for fear of translating.

Liberia's female president also banned gathering crowds, such as demonstrations and marches. She is also considering isolating certain residential areas in urban areas, according to Liberia's assistant minister of health.

Complex developments forced the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta on July 28 to issue a medical warning, recommending that the country's health care experts monitor those The patient had previously traveled to West Africa and had similar symptoms of Ebola infection, including fever, headache and diarrhea.

The CDC also recommends level 2 travel recommendations, suggesting travelers avoid contact with blood and body fluids of people infected with the virus. This recommendation is one level lower than the proposal to avoid unnecessary trips to countries with epidemics. However, CDC stressed that there is less risk of Ebola outbreaks going to the United States.

The Ebola outbreak began to erupt in southern Guinea in February, then spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone. Until now, this is the most dangerous killer disease in the world because there is no preventive vaccine and it is currently also impossible to cure.

The disease caused by Ebola virus first appeared in the Congo in 1976. Ebola virus is capable of killing up to 90% of people who have it. Even so, patients will have a greater chance of survival if treated early.

The disease is spread mainly by contact with secretions in the body of an infected person or animal. The incubation period lasts about 2-21 days.

Infectious disease in people with non-specific symptoms, such as fever, pain, discomfort, . easily mistaken for other viral diseases. However, after that, the patient will appear specific symptoms of the disease is loss of fluid, manifested by diarrhea, vomiting, hemorrhage or spitting blood (the reason why the disease is also known as Ebola hemorrhage). ). Patients may also develop rash, red eyes and hiccups.

Some patients can recover, while others cannot survive. This is still something that has not been thoroughly explained by clinicians. Diagnosis of the disease in the early stages is often difficult, but when it is suspected that the Ebola virus is suspected, proper isolation measures are necessary.