Have you heard of Ebola? Today we're going to talk about this terrible disease!

You've probably heard the name Ebola in the newspaper or on TV, right? In fact, even when you hear this name, you feel a little scared, because this is a rather serious and potentially life-threatening disease. But if we are properly informed and take the necessary steps, we can protect ourselves from such diseases. So, today we will talk about this disease called Ebola , how it develops, what are the symptoms, how it is transmitted, is there a treatment, and most importantly, how we can protect ourselves from it, all in a simple way that you can understand.

What exactly is Ebola?

Simply put, Ebola is a very dangerous and highly contagious viral disease . It is caused by several types of Ebola viruses. Among them , the Sudan virus and the Zaire virus are the most talked about. Did you know that this virus mainly spreads as an epidemic in some countries in Africa? But the world is so small these days, it doesn't take long for something from one place to go to another. Therefore, it is very important for all of us to be aware of this.

This Ebola disease can affect not only humans, but also animals we call primates, such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees.

Now look at what happens when this virus enters the body. Our body has an immune system . This is like our own army that fights and protects us from diseases that come into our body. But when this Ebola virus enters the body, this immune system suddenly starts to function more than it should, as if it has gone crazy. Imagine, a soldier who usually fights only with an enemy, suddenly starts to attack his own countrymen. That excessive activity is what causes high fever, body aches , vomiting , diarrhea ( stomach ache ) . Sometimes, if the condition becomes severe, the body can start bleeding both inside and outside. This can cause the body's vital organs, such as the heart, lungs , and kidneys , to stop working properly, and ultimately, death is more likely. That is why it is extremely important to seek medical attention as soon as possible if you develop symptoms of Ebola.

What are the symptoms of Ebola?

It can take anywhere from 2 to 21 days for someone to develop symptoms after being infected with the Ebola virus. This means that if you get the virus today, you may not get sick tomorrow, and you may not even show symptoms for up to three weeks. However, for most people, symptoms appear between 6 and 12 days after being infected with the virus.

The initial symptoms may be similar to those of a common cold. So sometimes you may not even think it's Ebola. Check out these symptoms:

• Sudden high fever
• Severe headache
• Joint pain and muscle pain
• Feeling of extreme fatigue and weakness
• Sore throat
• Feeling cold and feverish ( feeling cold - oops this is Thai, must be Sinhala: feeling like you're shivering and getting a fever) , that is, feeling cold and shivering
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (stomach ache)

These initial symptoms last for a few days, and as the disease progresses, other symptoms may appear. These include:

• Red blisters or spots on the skin (skin rash)
• Chest and stomach pain
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Bleeding from both inside the body (e.g., with stool) and outside (e.g., from the gums, nose)

If the disease progresses further, that is, in the final stages, severe bleeding, coma, organ failure , and even death can occur. That is why we need to be very careful about these symptoms.

How is this disease called Ebola transmitted?

Doctors sometimes have trouble figuring out exactly how the first person caught Ebola during an outbreak. But they believe that people first got it through contact with the body fluids of infected animals or by eating undercooked meat from those animals. Some wild animals in Africa, such as gorillas, monkeys, fruit bats, porcupines, and forest antelope, are suspected of carrying the virus. The meat from these animals is sometimes called "bush meat ."

Once a person has the disease, there are several main ways it can be transmitted to another person:

• The disease is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. These bodily fluids include blood, urine, feces, vomit, and saliva . These can enter the body through broken skin or mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Contaminated with infected blood or other body fluidsBy touching contaminated objects. For example, items such as clothing, bedding, and injection needles used by the patient.
• Breastfeeding . If a mother infected with Ebola breastfeeds, the virus can be passed to her baby through her milk.
• Having sex with an infected person . That means vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

Imagine, a family member has these symptoms, but we, without knowing it, or carelessly, approach them and help them as usual, touch the things they have used... Then how easily this can spread to other family members! Similarly, even in hospitals, if healthcare workers do not work properly wearing protective gear , they are also more likely to be infected.

How quickly can Ebola spread?

In Ebola, a person can only spread the virus to others after they start showing symptoms . This means that even if the virus is in their body but they are not showing symptoms, they are not contagious. However, as long as they have symptoms, and as long as the virus is in their blood and other body fluids, they can spread the disease to others. The virus can be present in a person's body fluids for weeks or months, even after they have no symptoms . Therefore, even after they have recovered from Ebola, they still need to be careful and follow medical advice for a long time.

How do you know for sure if you have Ebola?

The only way to definitively determine whether someone has the Ebola virus is with a blood test . Rapid and accurate diagnosis of Ebola is crucial to stopping the further spread of the disease.

But, as I said before, the initial symptoms are very similar to those of other common diseases like malaria, typhoid fever, and the common cold . Therefore, it can be a little difficult to identify Ebola in the early stages.

Therefore, if someone has symptoms of Ebola and has recently returned from or traveled to an area where Ebola is known to be spreading, they should be isolated immediately. They should then be tested by properly trained health professionals wearing protective gear. This is very important, because otherwise, the people being tested could also be infected.

What are the treatments for Ebola?

Most people who get Ebola need to be treated in a hospital or a well-equipped medical facility . It is difficult to treat at home. Treatment mainly includes:

• Provide plenty of fluids to keep the body from becoming dehydrated.
• Maintaining healthy levels of oxygen and blood pressure in the body.
• If a lot of blood has been released from the body,Blood transfusions fill that gap . That means giving donated blood.
• Providing medications and other treatments for symptoms and side effects. Some patients are given a special type of medicine called monoclonal antibodies . This helps treat some strains of the Ebola virus.

Even during this treatment, the patient must be kept completely isolated from others to prevent the disease from spreading to others.

Can Ebola be prevented?

Yes, we can take steps to prevent Ebola from occurring to some extent.

• Vaccine: A vaccine is now available to protect against some strains of the Ebola virus. This vaccine is usually given to people who have been exposed to the virus, or to those at high risk of exposure (for example, health workers who treat Ebola patients).
• Avoiding Ebola-affected areas: The best way to protect yourself from Ebola is to avoid traveling to areas where the disease has already been reported . If you are planning to travel to an African country, you can check the Ebola outbreak status at the time of your trip with a trusted source, such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) website .
• If necessary, take precautions: If you absolutely must travel to an area with Ebola, avoid contact with infected people, wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and avoid handling and eating wild animals (the " bush meat " we mentioned earlier) .
• Safety for healthcare workers: Those working with Ebola patients should wear full protective clothing from head to toe (oops, Georgian. Sinhala: - oops, Pashto. Sinhala:

Ebola is one of the deadliest diseases ever discovered. That's true. But with quick, proper treatment and new advances in medical science, doctors are increasingly successful in treating and curing this disease.

Finally, a few things to remember (Take-Home Message)

So, we've talked a lot about Ebola , haven't we? Even though this is a dangerous disease, the most important thing is not to panic and to stay informed.

Remember, it's wiser to know how to protect yourself from a disease like Ebola than to be afraid of it.

• Cleanliness: Simple things like washing your hands with soap regularly and keeping your environment clean can help prevent many illnesses.
• Attention:If you develop symptoms like fever and body aches, don't assume it's normal, but seek medical advice, especially if you've been to a high-risk area.
• Avoid eating unfamiliar foods: Avoid eating meat from unknown animals that is not cooked properly.
• Accurate information: If you want to know about a disease, always seek information only from trusted sources, such as doctors and health authorities. Don't be fooled by rumors.

If we all become aware of these things and act responsibly, we can protect ourselves from Ebola and many other infectious diseases and stay healthy. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask your family doctor or the nearest hospital.

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