BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Following reports on the Ebola outbreak in several African countries, the Ministry of Health (MoH) would like to inform the public that an assessment of the epidemic situation indicates there is minimum risk of the Ebola virus spreading in the Sultanate, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.
Hence, the Ministry of Health has advised the public not to panic or be alarmed because of the situation. The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a serious disease that has a high rate of fatality that could infect humans and animals such as bats, monkeys, chimpanzees and gorillas. So far there is no vaccine that could prevent infection or special treatment for the disease.
The symptoms of infection will start two days to three weeks, such as fever, muscular pains, headaches, sore throat, loss of energy and weakness followed by decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys, a point at which some people begin having bleeding problems. So far the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not issued a ban on travel or visits to the affected places. As a precautionary and preventive measure, the Ministry of Health (MoH) wishes to advise the public to refrain from travelling to outbreak hotspot.
Members of the public are strongly advised to maintain a high level of cleanliness, especially by regularly washing the hands with soap and water or other hand wash. Avoid exposure to, or handling sick or dead wild animals, including exposure to raw meat or eating not fully cooked meat. People should also avoid from coming in contact with ‘keluang’ (fruit bats) since this particular animal often carry the virus without being affected. The virus may be contracted upon contact with blood and bodily fluids of infected animals. Men who carry the virus are able to transmit the disease via semen for up to two months.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) will continue to monitor the situation on the Ebola virus disease epidemic and get the latest advice and information from the World Health Organisation. Until early this month, the WHO has reported one thousand six hundred and three Ebola cases with eight hundred and eighty seven 887 fatalities. All the reported cases occurred in West Africa.