The virus may be acquired upon contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected animal or human. Fruit flies are believed to be carriers and may spread the virus without being affected. Once a human gets infected the disease may spread from people to people. For instance, an infected male may be able to transmit the disease via semen. In order to confirm the diagnosis, blood samples are tested for viral antibodies, viral RNA, and the virus itself.
Prevention includes decreasing the spread of disease from infected animals to humans. This may be done by checking animals for infection and killing as well as properly disposing of the bodies if the disease is discovered. Properly cooking meat and wearing protective clothing when handling meat may also be helpful, and wearing protective clothing and washing hands when around a person with the disease. Samples of bodily fluids and tissues from people with the disease should be handled with special caution.
Airport security should be increased in terms of checking medical history and notes of those passengers coming from countries that are greatly affected by this disease. This disease has caused havoc in four West African countries and has killed more than 2,000 people. More awareness should be spread by organising campaigns in order for people to understand the consequences of this disease and how to protect themselves from it.
Farooq Naz Malik
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2014.
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