
Ebola
What is ebola?
Ebola is a serious virus that can cause fever, bleeding, and even death. It was first spotted in 1976, and sadly, Africa has been hit the hardest. It’s known to spread through contact with infected animals and humans. The 2014 outbreak in West Africa was especially bad, and Ebola has a 50% chance of being deadly if not treated properly.
How does it spread?
Unlike some diseases, you won’t catch Ebola just by breathing the same air as someone. You need direct contact with their bodily fluids like blood, sweat, saliva, even sweat! Here are a few ways it can spread:
- Blood and other fluids like vomit or diarrhoea
- Handling infected animals (like bats or monkeys)
- Attending funerals of Ebola victims
What are the symptoms?
Ebola comes with symptoms like:
- Extreme tiredness
- High fever
- Headaches and muscle pain
- Stomach cramps
- Bleeding or bruising How to protect yourself?
- Don’t touch blood or body fluids.
- Wash hands often, especially with soap and water.
- Avoid burial ceremonies where the body has Ebola.
- Stay away from sick animals.
What happens if you get ebola?
Sadly, there’s no cure yet, but doctors will try to make you comfortable with fluids and medicines to help manage the symptoms.