Ebola.

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

http://mic.com/articles/100618/one-powerful-illustration-shows-exactly-what-s-wrong-with-media-coverage-of-ebola

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

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2014/09/why_ebola_is_terrifying_and_dangerous_it_preys_on_family_caregiving_and.single.html

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/

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;

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-06/fighting-ebola-an-african-travel-ban-is-bad-for-the-u-dot-s-dot-too#p2

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