Ebola – Facts, Myths, and Fiction Dr M. Oladoyin Odubanjo Executive Secretary, The Nigerian Academy of Science (NAS) 1st Vice Chair, Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN), Lagps Chapter Presentation at Public Lecture by WHARC, Benin, 22nd September 2014

CountryCum. No of cases Cum. No of deaths Case fatality rate (%) Cum. No. Of lab confirmed cases Guinea Liberia2,7101, Sierra Leone 1, ,513 Nigeria Senegal1001 Totals5,3472, ,095

Ebola Virus Virus: – Begins in animals – Can also infect humans – Human-to-human infection (outbreak) Discovery in 1976 – Yambuku, Zaire along Ebola River Ebola, Culture and Politics: The Anthropology of an Emerging Disease, by Barrie S. and Bonnie L. Hewlett.

Where Does it Come From? Not entirely clear, but likely bats

Where Does it Come From? Bats may infect other animals

Where Does it Come From? Any of these can infect humans

Where Does it Come From? Once a human is infected, human-to-human transmission occurs

Human to Human Transmission Ebola is transmitted through – Touching body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, – Touching or using objects contaminated with Ebola

Signs of Ebola Virus Disease Signs generally begin 2-21 days after contact with a person who is sick with Ebola – Most commonly 1-2 weeks – People who do not show signs of disease cannot spread the disease

Signs of Ebola Virus Disease General: – Fever, headache, chills, weakness, tiredness Gastrointestinal symptoms: – Vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain Possible other symptoms: – Sore throat, hiccups

Other signs of Ebola Virus Disease Redness in the whites of the eyes Rash on the trunk Bleeding in 45% of cases (historically) – Mild: nose bleed, bruising – Severe: Gastro Intestinal bleeding, shock

Ebola symptoms are the same as many other diseases! Malaria Typhoid fever Cholera Other viral hemorrhagic fevers (e.g., Lassa) Most people sick with fever, vomiting, and diarrhea do not have Ebola

Family members of sick people Healthcare workers People at risk from Ebola

What to do?

Viruses are quite easily killed using sodium hypochlorite solution, exposure to sunlight and drying…

Wash hands with running water Teach everyone around you to wash hands Limit contact with ill people and dead bodies Be clean – in person, at home and at work

Key messages People well enough to walk around… are NOT contagious You CANNOT catch it doing normal daily activities You CANNOT catch it by sitting on a bus or plane Good hygiene and hand-washing practices WILL protect you and your loved ones DO NOT PANIC or spread panic on social media Spread the message of hand washing and cleaner personal habits

Care of Ebola Patients Not all patients with Ebola die Patients who seek early care have a better chance of recovery Ebola treatment centres provide the best care for patients with Ebola To prevent risk of infection, family members or friends should not attempt to care for Ebola patients on their own

Recovering patients Remain weak for a while May need nutritional, social support Once a doctor determines that a patient has recovered, it is safe for the patient to go home and return to work Recovered patients are not a risk to their families or the community

Acknowledgement NCDC FMoH WHO CDC APHPN

For questions, please contact 0800 EBOLA HELP (toll free)