Early stage of Ebola symptoms similar to Malaria and Cholera

Dr. Ben Nuertey, Public Health Officer at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) says the early stages of the deadly Ebola virus bears the same symptoms as a malaria and Cholera patient will experience.  According to Dr. Nuertey, the Ebola virus takes two to twenty-one days for someone who have being exposed to the virus to start showing the first symptom some of which include, fever, Headache, Joint aches, blood in stool and vomiting sometimes with blood. Dr. Nuertey said this during Fiila Fm’s Health talk show with host Akosua Kwaatemaa Boakye. As efforts are underway to prevent the deadly Ebola virus from entering into this country, health officials are urging citizens to be more cautious about the Virus. The current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is known to be the deadliest to date. The Ebola virus has sickened about 2127 people and killed 1145 of them in the worst hit countries; Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria with Liberia recording the highest death toll of 413. Asked how health officials are taking precautionary measures to protect themselves from the virus as they will have to encounter different people when they come to the hospital for health care, he stated that nurses and Doctors use hand sanitizers and result to hand washing after handling a patient in other not to get infected in case of any possible outbreak. Currently there is no known cure or vaccine for the deadly Ebola Virus. Dr. Nuertey therefore charged the public to be extra careful in their personal hygiene to help protect themselves from contracting the virus. Meanwhile the Northern Regional Health Directorate in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council will be meeting the media to discuss issues related to the deadly Ebola disease.                                                                

Source: Shawana Yussif