Ebola Virus Alert

WHAT IS EBOLA?

Ebola, also known as EVD(Ebola Virus Disease) is caused by a virus and can cause bleeding inside and outside the body. It is often deadly,but with early medical treatment, the death rate can be significantly reduced.

HOW IS EBOLA TRANSMITTED?

The Ebola Virus can be transmitted from an infected patient through body fluids including blood,saliva,vomit,stool,urine,semen,vaginal secretions,sweat and runny nose. EVD is also spread by contact with bush animals,though this has not been the case in the outbreak in Nigeria.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES?

Simple actions such as frequent handwashing with soap and water and not touching people who are sick with Ebola will reduce the chances of getting the disease.

Chikungunya Virus Infection

Prevention

-         No vaccine exists to prevent chikungunya virus infection or disease.

-          Prevent chikungunya virus infection by avoiding mosquito bites (see below).

-          The mosquitoes that spread the chikungunya virus bite mostly during the daytime.

Protect Yourself from Mosquito Bites

-        Use air conditioning or window/door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.  If you are not able to protect yourself from mosquitoes inside your home or hotel, sleep under a mosquito bed net.

-        Help reduce the number of mosquitoes outside your home or hotel room by emptying standing water from containers such as flowerpots or buckets.

-        When weather permits, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.

-        Use insect repellents

o   Repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, and oil of lemon eucalyptus and para-menthane-diol products provide long lasting protection.

o   If you use both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply the sunscreen first and then the repellent.

o   Do not spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.

o   Treat clothing with permethrin or purchase permethrin-treated clothing.

o   Always follow the label instructions when using insect repellent or sunscreen.

If you have chikungunya, follow these instructions:

-        During the first week of infection, chikungunya virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to another mosquito through mosquito bites. An infected mosquito can then transmit the virus to other people.

-        To prevent further spread of the virus, it is important for people to avoid mosquito bites during the first week of illness.

Be Unpredictable

Criminals often “case“ or scope out their victims prior to striking. Routines such as leaving and returning home at the exact same time each day, jogging at the same time, or regularly leaving your back window open while you cook dinner are all potential vulnerabilities. Consider mixing things up so that your routines can’t be predicted and used against you.

Have an exit strategy

Do you know exactly what you would do if you woke up to a raging fire in your house? What if there was a sudden earthquake? What if you were driving on a dark country road and you realized someone suspicious was clearly following you? By going over these scenarios in your head, you can come up with plans and strategies to mitigate the inherent dangers. The more you think and plan now, the less thinking and planning you’ll need to do in a moment’s notice.