Ebola on US soil. The start of cold and flu season. Projections of another teeth-chattering winter.
Now, more than ever, businesses need to be taking all measures necessary to protect their workforce.
In a way, the recent incidents of Ebola in Dallas-Fort Worth reinforce the need to make sure employees have their flu shots and are taking proper precautions.
Until the outbreak is finally contained, one of the simmering concerns will always be panic among the public. And because flu symptoms can easily be confused with those of the more deadly virus, making sure the public is protected against the flu can go a long way to help eliminate potential confusion and panic.
And while there is no vaccine for Ebola, you can make sure your workforce is properly educated on how to protect themselves.
The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers the following Facts and Tips about Ebola:
FACTS
• Ebola is caused by a virus which was discovered in Africa in 1976 near the Ebola River.
• Ebola is thought to have started in bats and was probably first transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals.
• Most human Ebola cases have been sporadic in several African countries.
• Ebola is transmitted through direct and prolonged contact with infected body fluids (including but not limited to blood, feces, saliva, urine, vomit and semen) when the person is showing symptoms. It can also be spread through needles contaminated with infected blood or body fluids. It is NOT spread when the infected person is symptom-free.
• To become infected, the virus must enter your body through broken skin or exposed mucus membranes such as the eyes, nose and mouth.
• The illness starts with symptoms similar to the flu. Symptoms include fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F), severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and/or 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.
• Diagnosis can be made by a blood test a few days after symptoms appear.
• There is no vaccine or antiviral medication to treat Ebola at this time.
• Treatment includes treating the symptoms with IV fluids, oxygen and treating other infections if they occur.
• Recovery from the illness depends on the general health and immune system of the infected person.
• People most at risk for exposure to Ebola are health care workers and families of Ebola patients.
• The Ebola patient in Texas recently arrived in the United States from travel in Liberia, Africa, and did not show symptoms until a few days after he arrived in the US.
TIPS
• The US has very good sanitation practices and infection control techniques. For many reasons, conditions are not as good in Africa so the disease is spread easier there.
• Most cases in Africa were from coming into contact with infected animals (source of food in Africa) or inadequate toilet facilities (coming into contact with infected feces and urine).
• The best way to protect yourself is what you do every day. We are fortunate in the US to have sanitary toilet facilities, safe food sources and adequate water and soap for hand washing.
• Avoid contact with persons who have traveled to Africa or avoid travel to Africa if possible.
• Practice the usual infection control daily such as cleaning surfaces and washing hands before eating or touching mucus membranes.
• Use hand sanitizer frequently if soap and water are not available, especially after coughing or sneezing. In general, keep unclean hands away from your face.
• Remember your healthy, unbroken skin and hand washing are your best defenses against any infection.
• You can follow CDC Emergency on Twitter for live updates.
If you would like printed copies of these Facts and Tips to post or hand out to your employees, email info@starwellnessusa.com.
