ebola poster and short presentation

1. What Is Ebola?
• Ebola is a severe and often deadly
disease that causes fever and other
symptoms accompanied by bleeding.
• The virus is animal-borne. Although
bats are the likely hosts/carriers, the
direct species is unknown.
How do you get
the Ebola virus?
Direct contact with a symptomatic
patient through broken skin and/or
unprotected mucous membranes
such as eyes, nose, or mouth with:
• Body fluids of a person who is
sick with or has died of Ebola
(blood, vomit, urine, feces, sweat,
semen, other fluids)
• Objects contaminated with the
virus (needles, medical
equipment)
• Infected fruit bats or primates
• Infected bush meat (contact made
through hunting, butchering, or
processing of meat). This is
specific to regions where bush
meat is consumed.
Ebola Risk
People with highest risk of getting
sick are those that may come into
direct contact with infected blood or
bodily fluids of sick patients:
• Care providers for Ebola patients
in clinic, household, or
community settings
• Family and friends in close
physical contact with Ebola
patients
• Individuals who physically
handle remains of the deceased
It is essential that those caring for
infected persons and/or handling
the deceased wear appropriate
specialized personal protective
equipment if and when available.
You are NOT at risk if you have NOT had direct contact or exchanged
bodily fluids with an infected and/or deceased person; or handled
meat and/or have been exposed to animals that are infected with or
deceased due to Ebola.
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http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html

2. • After 21 days without developing
symptoms, a person is unlikely to
become sick from that exposure.
• Simply because you don’t get
infected from an initial exposure
does not mean you are no longer
at risk of infection with another
exposure
Humans are not infectious until they develop symptoms.
Ebola Symptoms
Early Signs &
Symptoms
• Low fever
• Weakness/fatigue
• Joint and muscle
aches
• Severe headache
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
Advanced Symptoms
• High fever (greater than
38.6 °C or 101.5 °F)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Raised rash
• Diarrhea (may be
bloody)
• Chest pain and cough
• Stomach pain
• Severe weight loss
• Bleeding, usually
from the eyes, and
bruising (people near
death may bleed from
other orifices, such as
ears, nose & rectum)
• Internal bleeding
• Incubation period range: 2-21
days from time of exposure to
onset of symptoms
• Average incubation period:
8-10 days from time of
exposure to onset of symptoms
Following exposure, when would one feel sick?
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http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/symptoms/index.html

3. Ebola infections are confirmed
through laboratory testing of blood
samples.
Ebola Diagnosis
Ebola Diagnosis & Treatment
There is no vaccine for Ebola.
To date, there is no specific
treatment for Ebola.
Patients are given supportive care,
the earlier the better, to help their
immune system fight off the virus,
including:
• Providing intravenous fluids (IV)
and oral rehydration care
• Maintaining oxygen status and
blood pressure
• Treating of other
comorbidities/infections when
and/or if they occur.
Ebola Treatment
• Patients are required to give
informed consent for
experimental treatments.
• ZMapp - currently not approved
by United States FDA - has been
used to treat infected patients.
• Additional treatments are
under investigation.
Experimental Treatments
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http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/qa-
experimental-treatments.html
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/treatment/index.html
Vaccine
Recovery from Ebola depends on
the patient’s immune response.
When is someone able to
spread the disease to others?
(Ministries of Health should provide guidance
about how to properly respond to exposures,
provide care, and arrange for the disposal of
bodies of Ebola patients)
• Humans are not infectious
until they develop symptoms.
• People remain infectious as
long as their blood and body
fluids, including semen and
breast milk, contain the virus.
• Ebola Virus remains in
semen even after recovery,
therefore sexual transmission
has yet to be ruled out.
Recovered men should
abstain from all forms of sex
or use condoms every time.
• Burial ceremonies in which
mourners have direct contact
with the body of an infected
person can transmit Ebola.
Volunteers should not
participate in burials.

4. The hemorrhagic fever outbreak
that began in 12/2013 was first
confirmed to be Ebola in March
2014. It is the largest and most
widespread outbreak that has
occurred since the virus was
identified in 1976. Liberia, Guinea,
and Sierra Leone have been most
heavily affected.
Originating in Guinea, both
exposure and infection have spread
across land borders to Sierra Leone
and Liberia, by air through
travelers to Nigeria and the United.
Currently, it is difficult to assess how
much longer and how many more cases
and deaths will be attributable to this
outbreak. However, international
emergency health response efforts are
being employed in partnership with
various ministries to mobilize and
expand treatment, improve contact
tracing/monitoring of exposures, and
enhance preventative health education
resources across the region.
Official Numbers
The number of confirmed, probable, and suspected cases changes daily. Visit
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/ for up-to-date information.
On August 8, the World Health Organization Director-General declared
this outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
TheCurrentWestAfricanOutbreak
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States, and by land to Senegal and Mali. International caregivers from Spain
and the United States have been reported to be infected with Ebola.
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/2014-west-africa/distribution-map.html
http://apps.who.int/ebola/en/current-situation

5. On July 30, 2014, the Peace Corps evacuated its volunteers from Liberia,
Sierra Leone, and Guinea due to the increasing spread of Ebola.
Implications of Ebola for
the Peace Corps
Volunteers and staff members who
believe they are at risk for exposure
to the Ebola virus are encouraged to:
 Notify health officials (your Peace
Corps Medical Officer) immediately if
they become ill, and are to follow
the PCMO's instructions for further
evaluation or treatment.
 Continue to practice safe hygiene
and handwashing with warm water
and soap, or water and bleach
solution.
 Avoid direct contact with any
individual with an unexplained
feverish illness.
 Avoid bush meat, especially contact
made through hunting, butchering,
or processing of meat. This is specific
to regions where bush meat is
consumed.
 Contact their PCMO if they feel
unsafe at their site.
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Travel Considerations for
Volunteers and Staff
 State Department advises not
to travel to Liberia, Guinea,
Sierra Leone, or other
countries identified as having
an ongoing Ebola outbreak
 Advised to review in-country
re-entry regulations for
individuals who have traveled
to Ebola-affected countries
http://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/faf/fafhealth/ebola/
Challenges of the Outbreak
Health Care Workforce
• Limited health care staff
• Health care staff/
caregivers are being
infected with the virus
Stigma:
• The stigma associated
with Ebola infection
results in a hidden
caseload (patients not going
to clinic for care)
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/ebola
-6-months/surprises/en/

6. Informing communities about how to protect themselves from the virus and what
to do if they or someone they know becomes infected requires intensive and
coordinated messaging and education. The Peace Corps recommends that any
information shared by Volunteers are aligned with your country-specific
messages. If conducting education and preparedness activities around Ebola,
consider the following:
Challenges
How do I talk to my community
about Ebola?
• Perceived risk of Ebola infection by
communities is low
• Behavior change takes time
• Need consistent and persistent
messaging, education, and awareness
• Some communities lack trust in
government as a source of information
• Need for messages to be delivered
through a mix of methods: community
health workers, radio announcers, TV
spots, theater/dramas, etc.
• High illiteracy rates require messaging
techniques to be tailored accordingly.
• Perceive corpses are treated
poorly (images of poorly
disposed body bags are seen as a
culturally unacceptable/
disrespectful way to handle the
deceased)
• Lack trust in Ebola treatment
centers (viewed as a place
where people go to die)
• Avoid going to treatment
facilities because of
insufficient space (not enough
beds discourages individuals
from seeking treatment)
• Use more graphic messaging & face-to-face prevention awareness &
education.
• Generalized messages have been ineffective and lose credibility. Tailor
messages to cultural norms, beliefs, and practices relevant to the
audience being targeted.
• Educate religious/community leaders to dispel myths and rumors, and
to address stigma or discrimination
• Utilize leaders and survivors to deliver messages because they help
demystify the disease and break down stigma and discrimination
Recommendations for Ebola Education Efforts
Be aware that some
communities might…
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Source: UNICEF Social Mobilization Guidelines

7. ConsiderationsforPeaceCorps
VolunteersWorkinginHealthFacilities
Train/Detect
Identify Patients:
- Understand signs and
symptoms
- Understand screening criteria
- Designated triage/treatment
area
- Identify patient transportation
Information Management:
- Understand/obtain in-country
guidelines for prevention and
control
- Maintain awareness of cases in
country
Protect
Equipment:
- Personal protective
equipment (PPE) can
reduce risk of
transmission. Check with
your facility leadership
regarding local policies
and availability.
Environment:
- Identify space to
triage/isolate patients
- Identify spaces to put on
and remove PPE if available
- Identify space and protocols
to dispose and clean
contaminated materials
Response
Hygiene:
- Handwashing station
Reporting:
- Identify points of
contact for health
officials and staff
- Identify reporting
structure
Working with health facility staff on Ebola preparedness. Components
of emergency preparedness plans that health facilities have included when designing their Ebola
response
Clinic Exposure:
(Arrival of patient with
sign/symptoms*)
Contact PCMO
(PCMO will notify CD and
follow other Embassy or
Government protocols)
Do NOT touch/
work with patient
in any way
Do Not return to clinic
until advised
Follow any evacuation
instructions
Exposed
(You came in
contact with fluids
or blood of
suspected Ebola
case)
Contact PCMO
(PCMO will notify CD)
Await confirmation of
exposure from PCMO
If confirmed, isolate
& take temperature
twice/day for 21 days
post-exposure
Follow guidance
from PCMO &
country office
If Your Clinic Is Exposed If a Volunteer Is Exposed
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http://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/faf/fafhealth/ebola/
*Fever or headache, muscle
pain, weakness, vomiting,
diarrhea, abdominal pain,
hemorrhage in a country with
Ebola.
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/healthcare-us/index.html

8. COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION
UNICEF:
http://www.unicef.org/cbsc/files/Ebola_Social_Mobilization_Training_Guidelines-
2014.7.2.docx
http://www.unicef.org/cbsc/index_73157.html
The Health Communication Capacity Collaborative:
http://ebolacommunicationnetwork.org/
Others:
http://1millionhealthworkers.org/2014/08/21/chws-the-2014-ebola-crisis-an-
opportunity-for-community-level-care/
http://www.hrhebolaresources.org/
https://www.devex.com/news/ebola-communication-what-we-ve-learned-so-far-
84559
https://www.devex.com/news/the-problem-with-ebola-communication-84283
Ebola Resources
Given the evolving status of the Ebola outbreak, please note that these current resources and information may
change.
OTHER RESOURCES
IntraHealth: http://www.hrhebolaresources.org/
CDC Resource Page:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/resources/index.html?s_cid=cs_021
Wired Online Educational Module: http://www.wiredhealthresources.net/mod-
ebola.html
GENERAL INFORMATION
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Peace Corps: http://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/faf/fafhealth/ebola/
WHO: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/
UNICEF: http://www.unicef.org/emergencies/ebola/
Department of State (Travel):
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/Ebola.html
Contact your country Peace Corps Medical Officer for additional support.
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