Ebola emerged in 1976 in regions of Sudan and Zaire, but it has become a pressing issue in the United States due to the outbreak in Liberia and the small number of domestic cases. Ebola is a viral disease, which is fatal to humans.
Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids. Animals found dead on the road can still spread the virus disease as well as deceased humans, because the virus disease is still in their system. The virus disease can stay active in a system for weeks even after death or treatment.
Ebola had an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan that caused a total 431 deaths. Since then to the year 2012, African countries have had an average number of 66.25 deaths a year.
Now from the West African outbreak in March, there have been at least 5,000 deaths in a matter of eight months.
The virus disease was first contained in West Africa. However, after American doctors were sent to help take care of the individuals that acquired the virus disease, there have been four confirmed cases in the United States.
Of those cases, only one patient has died. Two patients have been discharged and one is currently in isolation.
So now that Ebola has entered U.S. territory, citizens are beginning to worry about the virus disease becoming a pandemic. But there are ways of taking care of yourself that will lessen your chances of catching the virus disease.
To begin with, you must have good hygiene. Wash your hands and do not come in contact with blood or other bodily fluids.
If one has been affected by Ebola or has passed away from the virus disease, do not come in contact with them, as you can still acquire the virus disease.
Specifically stay away from bats and nonhuman primates, since they come in contact with many bodily fluids, including blood.
The chances of you catching Ebola are very slim. I would tell you a joke about Ebola, but you probably would not get it. You just need to take care of yourself and take precautions.
If you have any symptoms of Ebola, which include a fever, fatigue, muscle pain, sore throat, and headache that is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, kidney and liver dysfunction, and external and internal bleeding, call your doctor immediately.