10 Things You SHOULD Know About The Deadly Ebola Virus

1. Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
2. EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90% meaning 9 out of 10 people who contract the disease are likely to die
3. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
4. Ebola can be contracted through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people including semen and vaginal fluid.
5. Contact with the corpse of a diseased person can also lead to infection with the virus.
6. The symptoms of Ebola include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat.
7. The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is 2 to 21 days
8. Suspicious wild life aka Bush meat should be avoided as much as possible and animal products to be consumed should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
9. Regular hand washing is advisable to avoid picking up germs. Use soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 percent alcohol
10. Be aware. Get as much information as you can about Ebola. Protect yourself and your family. Prevention is better than cure