HOW TO PREVENT EBOLA

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Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman

primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees).

Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. There

are five identified Ebolavirus species, four of which have caused disease in humans: Zaire ebolavirus; Sudan

ebolavirus; Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus; and Bundibugyo ebolavirus. The fifth, Reston

ebolavirus, has caused disease in nonhuman primates but not in humans.

Ebola is found in several African countries. The first Ebola species was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in

what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically in Africa.

The natural reservoir host of Ebola remains unknown. However, on the basis of available evidence and the nature of

similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is animal-borne with bats being the most likely reservoir. Four of the

five subtypes occur in an animal host native to Africa.

Transmission

Because the natural reservoir host of Ebola has not yet been identified, the manner by which the virus first appears in

a human at the start of an outbreak is unknown. However, researchers believe that the first patient becomes infected

through contact with an infected animal.

When an infection does occur in humans, there are several ways the virus can be spread to others. These include:

• direct contact with the blood or body fluids (including but not limited to feces, saliva, urine, vomit and semen)

of a person who is sick with Ebola

• contact with objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the blood or body fluids of

an infected person or with infected animals

The virus in the blood and body fluids can enter another person’s body through broken skin or unprotected mucous

membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth. The viruses that cause Ebola are often spread among families

and friends, because they come in close contact with blood or body fluids when caring for ill persons.

During outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within healthcare settings, such as clinics or hospitals.

Exposure to Ebola can occur in healthcare settings where hospital staff are not wearing appropriate protective clothing

including masks, gowns, gloves, and eye protection.

Dedicated medical equipment (preferably disposable, when possible) should be used by healthcare personnel

providing care for someone sick with Ebola. Proper cleaning and disposal of instruments, such as needles and

syringes, is also important. If instruments are not disposable, they must be sterilized before being used again. Without

adequate instrument sterilization, virus transmission can continue and amplify an outbreak.

Signs and Symptoms

A person infected with Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear.

Signs and Symptoms of Ebola typically include:

• Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)

• Severe headache

• Muscle pain

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Stomach pain

• Unexplained bleeding or bruising

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola but the average is 8 to 10 days.

Recovery from Ebola depends on the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop

antibodies that last for at least 10 years.Risk of Exposure

Ebola is found in several African countries. Since 1976, Ebola outbreaks have occurred in the following countries:

• Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

• Gabon

• South Sudan

• Ivory Coast

• Uganda

• Republic of the Congo (ROC)

• South Africa (imported)

• Guinea

• Liberia

• Sierra Leone

• Senegal

• Nigeria

Because the natural reservoir host of Ebola, and the manner in which transmission of the virus to humans remain

unknown, risk assessment in endemic areas is difficult.

During outbreaks of Ebola, those at highest risk include healthcare workers and the family and friends of a person

infected with Ebola. Healthcare workers in Africa should consult the Infection Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers In

the African Health Care Setting to learn how to prevent and control infections in these settings. Medical professionals

in the United States should consult the Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients

with Known or Suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in U.S. Hospitals.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Ebola in a person who has been infected for only a few days is difficult because the early symptoms, such

as fever, are not specific to Ebola infection and are seen often in patients with more commonly occurring diseases,

such as malaria and typhoid fever.

However, if a person has symptoms of Ebola and had contact with blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola,

contact with objects that have been contaminated with blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola or contact with

infected animals, the patient should be isolated and public health professionals notified. Samples from the patient can

then be collected and tested to confirm infection.

Laboratory tests used in diagnosis include

Timeline of Infection Diagnostic tests available

Within a few days after symptoms begin - Antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

(ELISA) testing

- IgM ELISA

- Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)

- Virus isolation

Later in disease course or after recovery - IgM and IgG antibodies

Retrospectively in deceased patients - Immunohistochemistry testing

- PCR

- Virus isolation

 

Currently there are no specific vaccines or medicines (such as antiviral drug) that have been proven to be effective

against 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(IV) fluids and balancing electrolytes (body salts)

• Maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure

• Treating other infections if they occur

Timely treatment of Ebola is important but challenging since the disease is difficult to diagnose clinically in the early

stages of infection. Because early symptoms such as headache and fever are not specific to Ebolaviruses, cases of

Ebola may be initially misdiagnosed.

However, if a person has symptoms of Ebola and had contact with blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola,

contact with objects that have been contaminated with blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola, or contact with

an infected animal, the patient should be isolated and public health professionals notified. Supportive therapy can

continue with proper protective clothing until samples from the patient are tested to confirm infection.

Experimental treatment has been tested and proven effective in some animals but has not yet been evaluated in

humans.

Prevention

When cases of the disease do appear, there is increased risk of transmission within healthcare settings. Therefore,

healthcare workers must be able to recognize a case of Ebola and be ready to use appropriate infection control

measures. The aim of these techniques is to avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected patient.

Appropriate procedures include:

• isolation of patients with Ebola from contact with unprotected persons

• wearing of protective clothing (including masks, gloves, impermeable gowns, and goggles or face shields) by

persons caring for Ebola patients

• the use of other infection-control measures (such as complete equipment sterilization and routine use of

disinfectant)

• Avoid touching the bodies of patients who have died from Ebola

Healthcare workers should also have the capability to request diagnostic tests or prepare samples for shipping and

testing elsewhere.

CDC, in conjunction with the World Health Organization, has developed a set of guidelines to help prevent and control

the spread of Ebola. Entitled Infection Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers In the African Health Care Setting, the

manual describes how to:

• recognize cases of viral hemorrhagic fever

• prevent further transmission in health care setting by using locally available materials and minimal financial resources

 

http://www.cdc.gov/

WHAT DOES MAGNETIC STORMS LOOK LIKE

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What does a magnetic storm look like?

During a magnetic storm every second the sun radiates huge amounts of solar energy in the form of protons, electrons, plasma, and high radiation in the environment. Such sunny whirlwinds have a mighty power and sometimes they can influence the earth. Besides, the magnetic field of our planet protects us.

But some eruptions are so strong and dangerous for the earth that under their influence certain area of the magnetic field of our planet is deformed. Just then the magnetic storms happened.

The magnetic storms in action

Not all the inhabitants of the earth are equally sensitive to these manifestations of the sun. In fact, the highest risk has those who suffer certain illnesses in the cardiovascular and nervous systems. During the magnetic storms, the human blood begins to condense which leads to problems in the blood circulation and the nervous system.

There is no sense to expect magnetic storms but there are places where those phenomena happen with bigger power.

The mightiest influence of the magnetic storms occurs in the next cases:

1.      At the height from 9 to 11 kilometers in the plane. It is known that the planes test the magnetic storms stronger. As practice shows in the days of the formation of solar eruptions, air accidents happen more often.

2.      Two answers to the questions.

3.      What the magnetic storm is and how it influences our health are well-known to the inhabitants of the North. Norwegians, Swedes, Finns, and people who live in Siktivkar, Archangelsk, Murmansk, Petrozavodsk, and other cities, situated eastwards from 60 parallel, suffer the magnetic storms more than the inhabitants of the middle zone of the Russian Federation, for example.

4.      It is proven that people in the underground feel the magnetic storms the worst. The processes, which happen in the underground trains as the formation of low-frequency magnetic fields in link with the influence of magnetic storms, have a very negative effect on the human body. That’s why the workers in the underground often have pain in their hearts and heart attacks occur. 

How can we reduce the effect of magnetic storms on our health?

-Stop consumption of alcohol;

-Avoid physical fatigue;

-Magnetic storms increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, so on these unpleasant days one can’t eat many nutritious dishes and desserts and it’s better to eat oat porridge, fresh vegetables, fruit, boiled fish, and brown bread.

-Those who have a predisposition to cardiovascular diseases must keep their usual medicines at hand;

-It is useful to put the compresses from eucalyptus in order to reduce the influence of magnetic storms;

-One must not get up from one’s bed quickly. This recommendation is especially important for those who take medicines for low blood pressure. The quick getting up from the bed can lead to a sudden loss of consciousness or strong dizziness.

Using this simple advice you can reduce the influence of magnetic storms on your health.

 

 

 Geomagnetic storms forecast

 

MAGNETIC STORMS TODAY

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See the magnetic storms at the moment 

 

	0:00	3:00	6:00	9:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00
Sat 9 July	2	3	3	3	2	2	1	1
Sun 10 July	2	2	2	2	1	2	1	2
Mon 11 July	2	2	2	2	1	1	1	2

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

SALT, DIET AND HIGHT BLOOD PRESURE

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Too much salt is bad. Eating a daily banana — or sweet potato — might be a good idea. But when it comes to controlling your blood pressure through diet, it's best to think bigger, experts say.

How to reduce the potential risk of stroke

Your whole diet, not any miracle food or salt reduction alone, is the key to getting those numbers down and potentially lowering your risk for stroke, heart attack, kidney damage and other diseases. The right diet also might help keep you off medication or lower your doses, according to the American Heart Association.

That's a message that's been lost amid recent scientific arguments about the ideal amount of salt for Americans to eat, says Lawrence Appel, director of the Welch Center for Prevention, Epidemiology and Clinical Research at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore. Appel, who also is a spokesperson for the heart association, is, however, in the camp that says salt is a major contributor to high blood pressure and to disease and death. Studies that fail to show a direct link between high-salt diets, disease and death have been flawed but widely publicized, he says: "That's really unfortunate."

Strong studies do show that dietary habits, including sodium intake, have a significant effect on blood pressure itself. Diets that emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish and nuts while minimizing red meat and sugars are best, the heart association says. That pretty much describes DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) — the best-studied diet for controlling blood pressure.The diet was developed in studies sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

At the heart of the DASH diet are specific targets for key food groups — including 3-6 daily servings of vegetables and 3-6 daily servings of fruit, depending on calorie needs.

In studies, people who ate the DASH diet without cutting sodium achieved lower blood pressures than those who ate typical American diets. Those who combined DASH with reducing sodium, to 2,300 mg. per day, did even better; those who cut sodium to 1,500 mg, did best. The typical American consumes about 3,600 mg.

What is the key of success?

The key to success may be the balance of minerals — the subtracted sodium and the added potassium, calcium and magnesium, says Appel, a lead DASH researcher. Potassium looks especially important, he says.

"Higher levels of potassium blunt the effects of sodium. If you can't reduce or won't reduce sodium, adding potassium may help," he says. "But doing both is better."

Potassium is plentiful in many fruits (cantaloupes and oranges, as well as bananas) and vegetables (from potatoes to spinach), but also in fish, nuts and dairy foods.

How potassium reduces high blood pressure

The Food and Drug Administration recognized potassium as a blood pressure reducer when it proposed new food labels this year: It added the mineral to the required list on labels. The typical American eats 2,600 mg. of potassium a day, well below the recommended 4,700 mg.

 

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