Ebola in Nigeria

Ebola in Nigeria

Ebola (Pronunciation: /ɪˈboʊlə/), officially known as Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains. The disease was first identified in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, one in Sudan, and the other in the Democratic Republic of Congo near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.

In Nigeria, the first case of Ebola was reported in July 2014 when a Liberian-American lawyer named Patrick Sawyer flew into Lagos. The disease subsequently spread across the country, resulting in a total of 20 cases and 8 deaths.

Etymology

The name "Ebola" comes from the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where one of the first outbreaks of the disease occurred. The river's name itself is derived from a local term meaning "Black River".

Symptoms

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after contact with the virus, with an average of 8 to 10 days.

Transmission

Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Prevention and Control

Prevention measures include regular hand washing with soap and water, avoiding contact with blood and body fluids, and avoiding handling items that may have come in contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids.

In Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other health organizations implemented various measures to control the spread of the disease, including contact tracing, health education, and the establishment of Ebola treatment units.

Related Terms

• Virus
• Infectious Disease
• Pandemic
• Public Health

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Ebola in Nigeria
• Wikipedia's article - Ebola in Nigeria

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