Ebola: Don Harps On Best Practices

A medical expert has
advised that maintaining universal best practice would help keep Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) at bay.
Consultant Surgeon, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) and Professor of Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Alakahia, Rollings Jamabo, gave this advice in a chat shortly after a training seminar on Ebola virus in Port Harcourt.
Prof Jamabo stated that minimal contact with the virus would curb its spread, which he said would invariably check outbreak of the disease.
He explains, “the Ebola virus, like any other viruses, replicate themselves so rapidly, they burn themselves out, so as long as precautions are taken and we prevent infecting ourselves and if re-infection was effectively reduced, the virus burns itself out.”
Prof Jamabo, also the Coordinator, Cancer Control Centre, UPTH, noted that the virus thrives in suitable medium, such as human body, pointing out that the virus does not die even at the death of an infected person and stated that the minimal amount of the virus that lands on an individual and measures taken against the virus, determine the level of outbreak of fever.
According to him, for any viral disease, the quantum of infection, the resistance of the individual and also the surrounding environment matters, if people are well fed, their resistance will be satisfactory, and the quantum of infection is minimal. The disease will not manifest, all the individual would get might be just a transient fever and it goes.”
He used the opportunity to congratulate the Federal and Rivers State Governments on their prompt and effective response in combating the Ebola virus, which he said quickly, checked the spread of the disease.
“By every standard, the Federal and Rivers State Governments have done tremendously well in containing the Ebola Virus Disease,” he stated and advised on regular hand washing with soap or hand sanitizer, personal and environmental hygiene, proper diet and report sudden increase in body temperatures to designated hospital.

Tonye Nria-Dappa

Youths cycling with the Rivers State Commissioner for Youth Development, Sir Owene Wonodi during a road show on cancer awareness in Port Harcourt, recently.