Vigilant surveillance is the only way out
What you need to know:
- Ebola is introduced to the human body through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals.
- No vaccine against Ebola exists, and if an outbreak is suspected, the premises should be quarantined immediately.
- The people affected by Ebola should be informed about the nature of the disease and about containment measures, including burial of the dead. People who die of Ebola should be promptly buried.
Ebola is a zoonotic disease that infects both animals and man, which calls for collaboration between doctors and veterinarians.
Such a collaboration is evident in the global efforts to eliminate human rabies and control the disease in animals, and for which the Food and Agriculture Organisation, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and the World Health Organisation united.
Every year, an estimated 60,000 people globally suffer agonising deaths from rabies. Many are children bitten by rabid dogs, yet rabies is preventable. Education, community participation, and public awareness are important elements of successful rabies control programmes, and mass vaccination of dogs critical.
Ebola is a severe, often fatal illness in humans and some animal species. Its outbreak has a fatality rate of up to 90 per cent, with the virus being transmitted to people from animals.
Fruit bats are considered to be the natural hosts of the virus, hence the importance of veterinary surveillance to break the transmission cycle.
ACCIDENTAL HOSTS
Ebola is introduced to the human body through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been documented from handling infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines.
Although non-human primates have been a source of infection for humans, they are not thought to be the reservoir but rather accidental hosts like human beings. Ebola outbreaks have been observed in chimpanzees and gorillas.
No vaccine against Ebola exists, and if an outbreak is suspected, the premises should be quarantined immediately. Culling of infected animals, with close supervision of burial or incineration of carcasses, may be essential.
Restricting the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease. In the absence of effective treatment and a human vaccine, raising awareness of the risk factors and protective measures is the only way to reduce infection and death.
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
During Ebola outbreaks, educational public health messages for risk reduction should focus on a number of factors:
• Reducing the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission from contact with infected fruit bats or monkeys/apes, and the consumption of their raw meat. Animals should be handled with gloves and other appropriate protective clothing. Animal products (blood and meat) should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
• Reducing the risk of human-to-human transmission arising from direct or close contact with infected patients, particularly with their bodily fluids. Gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn when taking care of patients at home.
• The people affected by Ebola should be informed about the nature of the disease and about containment measures, including burial of the dead. People who die of Ebola should be promptly buried.
The H5N1 Avian Influenza crisis has shown how crucial it is to address persistent global threats at the interface between humans, animals, and ecosystems. Moreover, it showed how a transparent and consistent approach, based on high-quality scientific advice, are vital for the management of these threats,
Dr Wanga is a consultant epidemiologist and vice-president of the African Veterinary Association ([email protected])
