While many western countries like the US and Canada have been busy fighting off the spread of Ebola, others were engaged in a secret war against the disease with much more advanced weaponry! Here are some countries that might surprise you when it comes to their approach to fighting the deadly virus.
The Ebola Virus
A viral hemorrhagic fever, characterized by fever, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. The Ebola virus is a highly deadly disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids.
Disease Prevention
Ebola is a rare but deadly disease that is usually found in Africa. It can be transmitted through contact with the body fluids of infected animals, but it is typically spread through person-to-person contact. Ebola is not an airborne virus. There is no specific treatment for Ebola so it is important to practice good hygiene by washing hands frequently, avoiding physical contact with sick people, and washing clothes after contact with blood or other bodily fluids. Ebola is a deadly virus that is easily transmitted to others, so strict precautions must be taken when working in areas that are highly infected with Ebola.
First Aid
Ebola infection is not curable, but it can be controlled. Treatment begins with the standard illness prevention measures, and Ebola can be prevented by following safe handling and food preparation practices. The United States Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests a five-step program to safely prepare foods, protect yourself, and prevent the spread of the disease:
- Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling food, utensils, or eating.
- Avoid contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected people.
- Wear rubber gloves and a mask when cleaning, preparing, or serving food in an infected area.
- Cook meat thoroughly and correctly.
- Cook foods you have peeled, cored, or deveined, and limit contact with unsanitary items.
- When using a dishwasher, sanitize it well before using it.
- If you must eat the blood of an infected person: Wait until later, after you have taken all the other precautions to avoid the disease, and carefully remove the protective coverings of any devices.
Modern Technology
One of the most prominent modern technological advancements to come out of Africa is the Ebola vaccine. The vaccine was developed by American scientists at Harvard, MIT, and the National Institutes of Health. The vaccine has been tested on monkeys, which have shown less-than-ideal results. Though there is still no medical advice as to whether or not the vaccine will be ready for use soon, it is showing some promise. Human touch is thought to be one of the most effective ways to prevent Ebola. This is how it spreads through the air. People are to avoid exposing their hands to those of other people, especially the exposed areas. Wash your hands with warm, soapy water after using the bathroom and before eating or preparing food. Vaccination is an effective way to help prevent an outbreak. If no vaccine was available in the meantime, it is still important to avoid coming into contact with other people’s blood and bodily fluids and to avoid activities that involve blood contact. The CDC has labeled this outbreak as a Level 4, meaning the spread of Ebola virus can be stopped in its tracks.
Many people were given potential Ebola and other diseases because of modern technology. In the 20th century, doctors were able to extract DNA from cells. Then, a group of researchers at The Scripps Research Institute in California produced a vaccine for Ebola (specifically, Zaire) because of this technology. They used a cold virus (known as VSV-Zaire), and they discovered that this virus could induce an immune response. They tested the ability of this cold virus in mice, and it was found that VSV-Zaire induced a significant immune response. However, this immunization was not helpful for mice actively infected with Ebola. The researchers concluded that Ebola targets the cells explicitly in the body responsible for immune response.
This is all about Ebola and how countries fight with modern technologies against Ebola.