So with all of
the recent media attention about the Ebola outbreaks in West Africa, and the
few reported cases in the United States, I felt it was time to make a post
about Ebola. . . . And how it has absolutely no affect on my life in
Mozambique. I’m not arguing the severity of the outbreaks, and will touch on that later in this post, however if one more person asks me "how's Africa", or if I’m
worried I wont be able to fly home in December because of Ebola . . . sigh. Read and learn, kids.
Firstly, lets
start by taking a look at just how BIG, the CONTINENT of Africa really is –
It is huge…
Reminder- I
live in the COUNTRY of Mozambique, which is located in the ‘china part 2’ area
along the coast, on the CONTINENT of Africa.
Now, lets take
a look at where the outbreaks of Ebola are happening . . . and now, lets compare
the two maps that we have. Where I live in relation to where the outbreaks are
happening. As we can see, I am incredibly far from the outbreak area.
Next, I’d like
to share with you a simple graph of what “Africa’s killers” really are. These
are issues that have been going on here for years, and are a much higher cause
of death than Ebola.
From this
graph, I would like to share a simple yet powerful illustration followed by the
online article about how what’s wrong with the way the West talks about Ebola.
It is an epidemic that (according to the most recent World Health Organization
statistic -
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/10/22/us-health-ebola-who-idUSKCN0IB23220141022)
has killed close to 5,000 people in various West African countries (Guinea,
Sierra Leone and Liberia)…. It has killed ONE in the United States.
"People in the African continent are more
regarded as an abstract statistic than a patient in the U.S. or Europe,"
he said. "How many
individual stories do we know about any African patients? None. They are
treated as an indistinguishable crowd." - André Carrilho
Now,
with all of this said – I do not feel that Ebola is an issue that should be overlooked.
It is a deadly disease that threatens humanity, by preying on humanity.
“The
most striking thing about the virus is the way in which it propagates. True,
through bodily fluids, but to suggest as much is to ignore the conditions under
which bodily contact occurs. Instead, the mechanism Ebola exploits is far more
insidious. This virus preys on care and love, piggybacking on the deepest, most
distinctively human virtues. Affected parties are almost all medical
professionals and family members, snared by Ebola while in the business of
caring for their fellow humans. More strikingly, 75 percent of Ebola victims
are women, people who do much of the care work throughout Africa and the rest
of the world. In short, Ebola parasitizes our humanity.” – Benjamin Hale
Some
facts about transmission and treatment;
Healthcare
providers caring for Ebola patients and the family and friends in close contact
with Ebola patients are at the highest risk of getting sick because they may
come in contact with infected blood or body fluids of sick patients.
During
outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within healthcare settings
(such as a clinic or hospital). Exposure to Ebola can occur in healthcare
settings where hospital staff are not wearing appropriate protective equipment,
including masks, gowns, and gloves and eye protection.
Once
someone recovers from Ebola, they can no longer spread the virus. However, at
this point in time there is no FDA-approved vaccine or medicine (e.g.,
antiviral drug) is available for Ebola. Experimental vaccines and treatments
for Ebola are under development, but they have not yet been fully tested for
safety or effectiveness.
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/08/the-political-economy-of-ebola/
https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/08/the-political-economy-of-ebola/
Symptoms
of Ebola are treated as they appear. The following basic interventions, when
used early, can significantly improve the chances of survival:
- Providing intravenous fluids (IV)and balancing electrolytes (body salts)
- Maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure
- Treating other infections if they occur
Recovery
from Ebola depends on good supportive care and the patient’s immune response.
People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at
least 10 years, possibly longer. It isn't known if people who recover are
immune for life or if they can become infected with a different species of
Ebola. Some people who have recovered from Ebola have developed long-term
complications, such as joint and vision problems.
Finally,
for those who are worried about me being able to come home in December – or
have heard suggestions on the social media/news about a travel ban to/from
Africa, I urge you to read this next article;
If
we want to stop deadly diseases from spreading, and reduce our exposure to
dangerous pathogens, we have to fight them when and where they emerge.
“To battle continuing epidemics
and potential pandemics, we need strong health and surveillance systems in
every country and research and development not only for the diseases of the
rich (such as cancer and heart conditions) but also for the infections of the poor.”
– Charles Kenny
