Hello friends, Humans have been battling from viruses since before our species had even evolved into its modern form. But we're a long way from winning the fight against viruses. In recent decades, several viruses have jumped from animals to humans and triggered sizable outbreaks, claiming thousands of lives. Before the novel coronavirus, many momentous epidemics and pandemics altered the course of human history, killing large percentages of the global population. So, here we Mr. Facts brought to you top 10 most deadliest viruses which was classified as a pandemic.
Viruses are typically described as obligate intracellular parasites, acellular infectious agents that require the presence of a host cell in order to multiply. Viruses that have been found to infect all types of cells – humans, animals, plants, bacteria, yeast, archaea, protozoa…some scientists even claim they have found a virus that infects other viruses! But that is not going to happen without some cellular help.
So before you start reading this information Mr. Facts make you sure that every information about all those viruses provided you to study and know about these viruses are all according to WHO. We love to provide correct information about every topic because less and false information can make your confidence down. We'll always try to give you important & true information and some mind blowing facts. And we Understand and we believe "knowledge is Power"
RABIES VIRUS
About in brief : -
Once clinical symptoms appear, rabies is virtually 100% fatal. In up to 99% of cases, domestic dogs are
responsible for rabies virus transmission to humans. Yet, rabies can affect both domestic and wild
animals. It is spread to people and
animals through bites or scratches, usually via saliva. Rabies is present on all continents, except
Antarctica, with over 95% of human deaths occurring in the Asia and Africa
regions. Rabies is one of the Neglected
Tropical Diseases (NTD) that predominantly affects poor and vulnerable
populations who live in remote rural locations.
Approximately 80% of human cases occur in rural areas. Globally, rabies deaths are rarely reported
and children between the ages of 5–14 years are frequent victims.
Prevention: -
Rabies is a vaccine – preventable disease.
Vaccinating dogs is the most cost-effective strategy for preventing
rabies in people. Dog vaccination
reduces deaths attributable to dog - mediated rabies and the need for PEP as a
part of dog bite patient care.
Increasing awareness of rabies prevention and control in communities
includes education and information on responsible pet ownership, how to prevent
dog bites, and immediate care measures after a bite. Engagement and ownership of the program at
the community level increases reach and uptake of key messages.
Symptoms: - The incubation period for rabies
is typically 2-3 months but may vary from 1 week to 1 year, dependent upon
factors such as the location of virus entry and viral load. Initial symptoms of rabies include a fever
with pain and unusual or unexplained tingling, pricking, or burning sensation
(paraesthesia) at the wound site. As the
virus spreads to the central nervous system, progressive and fatal inflammation
of the brain and spinal cord develops.
There are two forms of the disease:
Furious
rabies results in signs of hyperactivity, excitable behaviour, hydrophobia
(fear of water) and sometimes aerophobia (fear of drafts or of fresh air). Death occurs after a few days due to cardio -
respiratory arrest.
Paralytic
rabies accounts for about 20% of the total number of human cases. This form of rabies runs a less dramatic and
usually longer course than the furious form.
Muscles gradually become paralyzed, starting at the site of the bite or
scratch. A coma slowly develops, and
eventually death occurs. The paralytic
form of rabies is often misdiagnosed, considering to the under - reporting of
the disease.
Diagnosis: -
Current diagnostic tools are not suitable for detecting rabies infection before
the onset of clinical disease, and unless the rabies - specific signs of
hydrophobia or aerophobia are present, clinical diagnosis may be
difficult. Human rabies can be confirmed
intra - vitam and post mortem by various diagnostic techniques that detect
whole viruses, viral antigens, or nucleic acids in infected tissues (brain,
skin or saliva)
Transmission:
- People are usually infected following a deep bite or scratch from an animal with rabies, and transmission to
humans by rabid dogs accounts for 99% of cases.
In the Americas, bats are now the major source
of human rabies deaths as dog - mediated transmission has mostly been broken in
this region. Bat rabies is also an
emerging public health threat in Australia and Western Europe. Human deaths following exposure to foxes,
raccoons, skunks, jackals, mongooses and other wild carnivore host species are
very rare, and bites from rodents are not known to transmit rabies.
Transmission
can also occur if saliva of infected animals comes into direct contact with
human mucosa or fresh skin wounds. Human
- to - human transmission through bites or saliva is theoretically possible but
has never been confirmed. The same applies
for transmission to humans via consumption of raw meat or milk of infected
animals.
HIV
About in brief : -
The human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) targets the immune system and weakens
people's defense against many infections and some types of cancer . virus
destroys and impairs the function of immune cells , infected individuals gradually
become immunodeficient . Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell
count . The most advanced stage of HIV infection is acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome ( AIDS ) , which can take many years to develop if not treated ,
depending on the individual . AIDS is defined by the development of certain
cancers , infections or other severe long term clinical manifestations .
Signs and
symptoms : - The symptoms of HIV vary depending on the stage of infection .
Though people living with HIV tend to be most infectious in the first few
months after being infected , many are unaware of their status until the later
stages . In the first few weeks after initial infection people may experience
no symptoms or an influenza - like illness including fever, headache, rash or
sore throat .
As the
infection progressively weakens the immune system , they can develop other
signs and symptoms , such as swollen lymph nodes , weight loss , fever ,
diarrhoea and cough . Without treatment , they could also develop severe illnesses
such as tuberculosis ( TB ) , cryptococcal meningitis , severe bacterial
infections , and cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi's sarcoma .
Transmission
: - HIV can be transmitted via the exchange of a variety of body fluids from
infected people , such as blood , breast milk , semen and vaginal secretions .
HIV can also be transmitted from a mother to her child during pregnancy and
delivery . Individuals cannot become infected through ordinary day - to - day
contact such as kissing , hugging , shaking hands , or sharing personal objects
, food or water .
It is
important to note that people with HIV who are taking ART and are virally
suppressed do not transmit HIV to their sexual partners . Early access to ART
and support to remain on treatment is therefore critical not only to improve
the health of people with HIV but also to prevent HIV transmission .
Risk
factors:
Behavior and
conditions that put individuals at greater risk of contracting HIV include:
having
unprotected anal or vaginal sex;
having
another sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as syphilis, herpes,
chlamydia, gonorrhoea and bacterial vaginosis;
sharing
contaminated needles, syringes and other injecting equipment and drug solutions
when injecting drugs,
receiving
unsafe injections, blood transfusions and tissue transplantation, and medical
procedures that involve unsterile cutting or piercing; and
experiencing
accidental needle stick injuries, including among health workers
Diagnosis: -
HIV can be diagnosed through rapid diagnostic tests that provide same - day
results.
Most widely
- used HIV diagnostic tests detect antibodies produced by the person as part of
their immune response to fight HIV. In
most cases, people develop antibodies to HIV within 28 days of infection. During this time, people experience the so -
called "window" period - when HIV antibodies haven't been produced in
high enough levels to be detected by standard tests and when they may have had
no signs of HIV infection, but also when they may transmit HIV to others. After infection, an individual may transmit
HIV transmission to a sexual or drug - sharing partner or for pregnant women to
their infant during pregnancy or the breastfeeding period.
While
testing for adolescents and adults has been made simple and efficient, this is
not the case for babies born to HIV - positive mothers. For children less than 18 months of age,
serological testing is not sufficient to identify HIV infection - virological
testing must be provided as early as birth or at 6 weeks of age). New technologies are now becoming available
to perform this test at the point of care and enable same - day results, which
will accelerate appropriate linkage with treatment and care.
HIV testing
services: - HIV testing should be voluntary and the right to decline testing
should be recognized.
All HIV
testing services must follow the WHO - recommended principles known as the
"5 Cs":
-informed
Consent -Confidentiality
-Counselling
-Correct
test results
-Connection
(linkage to care, treatment and other services).
Prevention:
- Individuals can reduce the risk of HIV infection by limiting exposure to risk
factors. Key approaches for HIV
prevention, which are often used in combination, are listed below.
-Male and
female condom use
- Voluntary
medical male circumcision (VMMC)
-Use of ARVs
for prevention -Secondary prevention benefits of ART
-Pre -
exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV - negative partner
-Post -
exposure prophylaxis for HIV (PEP)
- Harm
reduction for people who inject and use drugs
A
comprehensive package of HIV prevention and treatment interventions for people
who inject drugs includes:
-needle and
syringe programmes;
-opioid
substitution therapy for people dependent on opioids, and other evidence -
based drug dependence treatment;
-HIV testing
and counseling;
-HIV
treatment and care;
-risk -
reduction information and education, and provision of naloxone to prevent
opioid overdose;
-access to
condoms; and
-management
of STIS, TB and viral hepatitis.
Treatment: -
The current HIV treatment guidelines include new ARV options with better
tolerability, higher efficacy, and lower rates of treatment discontinuation
when compared with previous recommended medicines. In 2019, WHO recommends the use of
dolutegravir - based or low-dose efavirenz for first-line therapy. DTG should also be used in 2nd line therapy,
if not used in 1st line and darunavir / ritonavir is recommended as the anchor
drug in third - line or an alternative option second - line therapy.
By mid-2020,
the transition to dolutegravir has been implemented in 100 low- and middle -
income countries and is expected to improve the durability of the treatment and
the quality of care for people living with HIV.
Despite improvements, limited options remain for infants and young
children. For this reason, WHO and
partners are coordinating efforts to enable a faster and more effective
development and introduction of age - appropriate pediatric formulations of new
ARV drugs. Globally, 25.4 million people
living with HIV were receiving ART in 2019.
This equates to a global ART coverage rate of 67%. However, more efforts are needed to scale up
treatment, particularly for children and adolescents. Only 53% of children were receiving ART at
the end of 2019.
Expanding
access to treatment is at the heart of a set of targets for 2020, which aim to
bring the world back on track to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
LASSA FEVER VIRUS
About in brief : -
Though first described in the 1950s, the virus causing Lassa disease was not
identified until 1969. The virus is a single-stranded RNA virus belonging to
the virus family Arenaviridae.
About 80% of
people who become infected with Lassa virus have no symptoms. 1 in 5 infections result in severe disease,
where the virus affects several organs such as the liver, spleen and
kidneys.
Lassa fever
is a zoonotic disease, meaning that humans become infected from contact with
infected animals. The animal reservoir,
or host, of Lassa virus is a rodent of the genus Mastomys, commonly known as
the "multimammate rat." Mastomys rats infected with Lassa virus do
not become ill, but they can shed the virus in their urine and faeces.
Lassa fever
is known to be endemic in Benin (where it was diagnosed for the first time in
November 2014), Ghana (diagnosed for the first time in October 2011), Guinea,
Liberia, Mali (diagnosed for the first time in February 2009) , Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, but probably
exists in other West African countries as well.
Symptoms of
Lassa fever: - The incubation period of Lassa fever ranges from 6-21 days. The onset of the disease, when it is
symptomatic, is usually gradual, starting with fever, general weakness, and
malaise. After a few days, headache, sore
throat, muscle pain, chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, cough, and
abdominal pain may follow. In severe
cases facial swelling, fluid in the lung cavity, bleeding from the mouth, nose,
vagina or gastrointestinal tract and low blood pressure may develop.
Protein may
be noted in the urine. Shock, seizures,
tremor, disorientation, and coma may be seen in the later stages. Deafness occurs in 25% of patients who
survive the disease. In half of these
cases, hearing returns partially after 1-3 months. Transient hair loss and gait disturbance may
occur during recovery.
Death
usually occurs within 14 days of onset in fatal cases. The disease is especially severe late in
pregnancy, with maternal death and / or fetal loss occurring in more than 80%
of cases during the third trimester.
Transmission:
- Humans usually become infected with Lassa virus from exposure to urine or
faeces of infected Mastomys rats. Lassa
virus may also be spread between humans through direct contact with the blood,
urine, faeces, or other bodily secretions of a person infected with Lassa
fever. There is no epidemiological
evidence supporting airborne spread between humans. Person - to - person transmission occurs in
both community and health - care settings, where the virus may be spread by
contaminated medical equipment, such as re-used needles. Sexual transmission of Lassa virus has been
reported.
Lassa fever
occurs in all age groups and both sexes.
Persons at greatest risk are those living in rural areas where Mastomys
are usually found, especially in communities with poor sanitation or crowded
living conditions. Health workers are at
risk if caring for Lassa fever patients in the absence of proper barrier
nursing and infection prevention and control practices.
Diagnosis: -
Lassa fever is difficult to distinguish from other viral haemorrhagic fevers
such as Ebola virus disease as well as other diseases that cause fever,
including malaria, shigellosis, typhoid fever and yellow fever.
Lassa virus
infections can only be diagnosed definitively in the laboratory using the
following tests:
-reverse
transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT - PCR) assay
-antibody
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
-antigen
detection tests
-virus
isolation by cell culture.
Treatment : - The antiviral drug ribavirin seems to be an effective
treatment for Lassa fever if given early on in the course of clinical
illness. There is no evidence to support
the role of ribavirin as post-exposure prophylactic treatment for Lassa
fever.
There is
currently no vaccine that protects against Lassa fever.
Malaria
About in brief : - : -
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium parasites.
The parasites are spread to people through the bites of infected female
Anopheles mosquitoes, called "malaria vectors." There are 5 parasite
species that cause malaria in humans, and 2 of these species - P. falciparum
and P. vivax - pose the greatest threat
.
-In 2018, P.
falciparum accounted for 99.7% of estimated malaria cases in the WHO African
Region 50% of cases in the WHO South - East Asia Region, 71% of cases in the
Eastern Mediterranean and 65% in the Western Pacific.
-P. vivax is the predominant parasite in the WHO
region of the Americas, representing 75% of malaria cases.
Symptoms: -
Malaria is an acute febrile illness. In
a non-immune individual, symptoms usually appear 10-15 days after the infective
mosquito bite. The first symptoms -
fever, headache, and chills - may be mild and difficult to recognize as
malaria. If not treated within 24 hours,
P. falciparum malaria can progress to severe illness, often leading to
death.
Transmission:
- In most cases, malaria is transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles
mosquitoes. There are more than 400
different species of Anopheles mosquito;
around 30 are malaria vectors of major importance. All of the important vector species bite
between dusk and dawn. The intensity of
transmission depends on factors related to the parasite, the vector, the human
host, and the environment.
Anopheles
mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, which hatch into larvae, eventually
emerging as adult mosquitoes. The female
mosquitoes seek a blood meal to nurture their eggs. Transmission is more intense in places where
the mosquito lifespan is longer and where it prefers to bite humans rather than
other animals. The long lifespan and
strong human - biting habit of the African vector species is the main reason
why approximately 90% of the world's malaria cases are in Africa.
Transmission
also depends on climatic conditions that may affect the number and survival of
mosquitoes, such as rainfall patterns, temperature and humidity.
Disease
burden: - According to the latest World malaria report, released in December
2019, there were 228 million cases of malaria in 2018 compared to 231 million
cases in 2017. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 405 000 in 2018,
compared with 416 000 deaths in
2017.
The WHO
African Region continues to carry a disproportionately high share of the global
malaria burden. In 2018, the region was
home to 93% of malaria cases and 94% of malaria deaths.
In 2018, 6
countries accounted for more than half of all malaria cases worldwide: Nigeria
(25%), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (12%), Uganda (5%), and Côte
d'Ivoire, Mozambique and Niger (4 %
each).
Children
under 5 years of age are the most vulnerable group affected by malaria; in 2018, they accounted for 67% (272 000) of
all malaria deaths worldwide.
Prevention:
- WHO recommends protection for all people at risk of malaria with effective
malaria vector control. Two forms of
vector control - insecticide - treated mosquito nets and indoor residual
spraying - are effective in a wide range of circumstances.
Diagnosis
and treatment: - Early diagnosis and treatment of malaria reduces disease and
prevents deaths. It also contributes to
reducing malaria transmission. The best
available treatment, particularly for P. falciparum malaria, is artemisinin -
based combination therapy (ACT).
WHO
recommends that all cases of suspected malaria be confirmed using parasite -
based diagnostic testing before administering treatment.
Vaccines
against malaria: - RTS, S / AS01 (RTS, S) is the first and, to date, the only
vaccine to show that it can significantly reduce malaria, and life -
threatening severe malaria, in young African children. It acts against P. falciparum, the most
deadly malaria parasite globally and the most prevalent in Africa. Among children who received 4 doses in large
- scale clinical trials, the vaccine prevented approximately 4 in 10 cases of
malaria over a 4 - year period.
Hantavirus
About in brief : - Hantaviruses are a family of viruses spread mainly by rodents and can cause
varied disease syndromes in people worldwide.
Infection with any hantavirus can produce hantavirus disease in
people. Hantaviruses in the Americas are
known as "New World" hantaviruses and may cause hantavirus pulmonary
syndrome (HPS). Other hantaviruses,
known as "Old World" hantaviruses, are found mostly in Europe and
Asia and may cause hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HERS).
Each
hantavirus serotype has a specific rodent host species and is spread to people
via aerosolized virus that is shed in
urine, feces, and saliva, and less frequently by a bite from an infected
host. The most important hantavirus in
the United States that can cause HPS is the Sin Nombre virus, spread by the
deer mouse.
Between 1
January and 22 December 2018, a total of 103 confirmed cases of hantavirus have
been reported at the national level, 99 of which were reported in Los Santos
Province. In Los Santos Province, 51
cases were classified as hantavirus fever1 (HF) without pulmonary syndrome and
48 cases were classified as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome2 (HPS), including four
deaths.
Of the 51 HF
cases, 41% were female, 55% aged between 20-59 years, with 76% occurring
between June 2018 and November 2018.
Of the 48
HPS cases, 56% were female, 67% aged between 20-59 years, with more than half
of the cases occurring in February 2018 (17%) and between June 2018 and
September 2018 (42%).
Four deaths
were reported among HPS cases (two female, two male, all aged over 60
years).
Cases were
confirmed by serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) 3. Sequencing determined that the type of virus
associated with this outbreak is Choclo virus.
It was first isolated in 1999 in the western Republic of Panama.
1 Hantavirus
fever (HF): Cases who present with fever, myalgia, headache, gastrointestinal
symptoms, and weakness. This case
definition is used for epidemiological surveillance purposes to detect patients
potentially exposed to the virus.
Source: Guide for Hantavirus Disease Management in Republic of Panama,
Gorgas Memorial Institute, Panama Ministry of Health.
2 Hantavirus
pulmonary syndrome (HPS): Cases who present with cardio - respiratory symptoms,
classified as mild, moderate, or severe.
Source: Guide for Hantavirus Disease Management in Republic of Panama,
Gorgas Memorial Institute, Panama Ministry of Health.
Influenza
About in brief : - Influenza or flu is caused by a virus that leads to respiratory illness. It is highly contagious and spreads easily
through coughs and sneezes of an infected person.
Influenza
can be communicated simply through touch.
Adults can start spreading the virus 2 days before the symptoms start
showing up and they can spread it for up to 7 days from the day they become
ill. This means that you can end up
spreading the influenza virus way before you figure out that you are ill.
It is
observed that 250,000 - 500,000 people die due to influenza in a calendar
year. In countries with heavy
industrialization, deaths caused due to influenza are reported to be higher in
people aged above 65.
An influenza
epidemic can go on for several weeks when a large part of the population in one
country is affected by the flu.
Symptoms: -
People regularly confuse flu with a bad cold.
Symptoms of influenza and cold include runny / blocked nose, cough and a
sore throat.
Mentioned
below are some of the symptoms that differentiate influenza from a heavy cold:
-Headache
-Aching
limbs and joints
-High
temperature exhaustion, fatigue
-Shivers,
cold sweat
-Gastrointestinal
symptoms, which include nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting (common in children than
adults)
Risk of
influenza is higher on: - The risk of going through severe influenza
complications is higher:
-People
above the age of 65 -Young children and babies
-People with
cardiovascular and heart disease
-People with
chest problems like bronchitis and asthma
-people with
kidney disease
-People
suffering from diabetes
-people on
steroids
-People go
through cancer treatment
Treatment :-
some of the common symptoms like a headache and body pains can be treated with
the help of painkillers / a paracetamol.
People
suffering from influenza should:
-Stay put at
home
-Avoid
direct contact with people till you are cured
-Keep your
hands protected from germs with the help of any Liquid Hand wash or Hand Sanitizer
-Take rest
and keep yourself warm
-Consume
plenty of liquids
-Abstain
from drinking alcohol
-Stop
smoking
-Keep
separate utensils for the one who is infected and make sure that you wash those
utensils with any Hygiene Liquid
Prevention:
- Two types of vaccinations are available.
The flu shot and the nasal - spray flu vaccine. The flu shot is given with the help of a
needle, usually in the arm. This
procedure is approved for anyone above the age of 6 months.
The nasal -
spray flu vaccine is made of live, weakened flu viruses that do not make you
ill.
There are
three types of influenza viruses - A (H3N2) virus, A (H1N2) virus, and B
virus. As viruses adapt and evolve, so
do the vaccines.
DENGUE
About in brief : - Commonly known as break bone fever is a flu - like illness caused by the Dengue
virus. It is caused when an Aedes
mosquito carrying the virus bites a healthy person. This disease is mainly found in the tropical
and sub-tropical regions of the world.
According to WHO, an estimated 500,000 people require hospitalization
each year. Most cases occur in tropical
areas of the world, with the population in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast
Asia, Mexico, Africa, parts of Central and South America most susceptible to
the disease. As per the data released by
the Directorate of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP),
there have been 67,000 cases of Dengue fever as of 13th October 2019 in
India.
Cause: -
Dengue is caused due to four viruses, namely - DENV - 1, DENV - 2, DENV - 3,
and DENV - 4. The virus enters a
mosquito when it bites an already infected person. And the illness is spread when it bites a
healthy person, and the virus spreads through the person's bloodstream.
Once a
person recovers, he is immune to the specific virus and not the other three
types. The probability of developing
severe Dengue fever, also known as Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever, increases if
you're infected a second, third or fourth time.
Symptoms: -
Usually, symptoms of Dengue feel like an uncomplicated fever and not easily
identifiable in teens and children.
Dengue
causes a fever of 104 F degrees along with at least two of these symptoms:
-Headache
-Muscle,
bone and joint pain
-Nausea
-Vomiting
-Pain behind
the eyes
-Swollen
glands
-Rash
There are
three types of fever a person is prone to, namely - Mild Dengue Fever, Dengue
Haemorrhagic Fever and Dengue Shock Syndrome.
- Mild
Dengue Fever - Symptoms are seen after a week from the bite and include severe
or fatal complications.
-Dengue
Haemorrhagic Fever - Symptoms are mild but can gradually worsen within a few
days.
-Dengue
Shock Syndrome - This is a severe form of dengue and can even cause death.
Treatment: -
There is no specific treatment of Dengue fever or cure as Dengue is a
virus.
Here are a
few basic treatments of Dengue fever:
-Medication:
Painkillers like Tylenol or Paracetamol are generally prescribed to the
patients. IV drips are sometimes
supplemented in case of severe dehydration.
-Stay
hydrated: This is important as most of our bodily fluids are lost during
vomiting and high fever. Continuous
intake of fluids will make sure that the body does not easily dehydrate.
-Hygiene:
Hygiene is of the utmost importance, even more so when you are not well. The patient can opt for a sponge bath if not
a regular bath. Add a few drops of
disinfectant liquid to the water being used for bathing. It is also advisable to sanitize your hand
with a hand sanitizer before and after visiting the patient in the
hospital. Disinfect the water used to
wash the patients clothes with Dettol to rid the clothes of germs.
Prevention:
- The best way is prevention. Following
are some actions you can take to keep yourself safe from the virus:
-Lesser skin
exposure: Try wearing long pants and shirts to cover your skin surfaces and
reducing the chances of bites.
Mosquitoes are highly active early in the morning or evening, so try
avoiding venturing out in those times.
-Mosquito
Repellent: A repellent with at least 10 per cent concentration of
diethyltoluamide (DEET). A higher
concentration is needed for longer exposures.
You can apply the ointment daily to keep mosquitoes away.
- Personal
hygiene: When you are infected with any virus, you are extra sensitive to other
illnesses. Use a hand sanitizer like
Dettol liquid hand wash which acts to keep germs at bay. This liquid soap will protect you against
many illness - causing germs.
-Disinfect
stagnant water: The Aedes mosquito breeds in clean and stagnant water. Keep water covered at all times and use a
proper disinfectant if necessary. Turn
over any vessels which can accumulate water and scrub the surfaces thoroughly
so as to reduce the chances of developing a breeding ground for the mosquitoes.
[Sars - Cov2]
About in brief : - The
2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID - 19) is a new strain of coronavirus that was
first identified during an investigation into an outbreak in Wuhan, China. It's
important to note how easily a virus spreads person - to - person can vary. Some viruses are highly
contagious, while other viruses are less so. Investigations are ongoing to
better understand the transmissibility, severity, and other features associated
with COVID - 19, but there are indications that person - to - person spread is
occurring.
Symptoms: -
According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the USA,
patients with confirmed COVID - 19 infections have reported mild to severe
respiratory illnesses with symptoms including:
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness
of breath
CDC believes
at this time that symptoms of COVID - 19
may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure. This is
based on what has been seen previously as the incubation period of ME RS viruses.
How corona virus spread :- Corona viruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others through:
- the air by
coughing and sneezing - close personal contact, such as touching or shaking
hands
- touching
an object or surface with the virus on it, then
Touching your mouth, nose, or eyes before washing your hands
- rarely,
fecal contamination Currently, it's unclear how easily or sustainably COVID -
19 is spreading between people. There is
much more to learn about the transmissibility, severity, and other features
associated with COVID - 19 and investigations are ongoing
Protection
from the Coronavirus:-
The best way
to protect yourself is to avoid being exposed to the virus. The CDC always recommends simple everyday
preventative steps to help prevent the spread of the respiratory virus,
including:
- Avoid
close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid
touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Wash your
hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an
alcohol - based hand sanitizer
- Clean and
disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
-Stay home
when you are sick
- Cover your
cough or sneeze, preferably with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin.
As with all infectious diseases, good hygiene
can play a role in controlling its spread.
However, the most important public health recommendation is that people
report to the nearest health care provider if they develop any symptoms
indicative of Corona virus. Call the
office of your health care provider before you go and tell them about any
previous travel and your symptoms. They
will give you instructions on how to get care without exposing other people to
your illness.
Marburg virus
About in brief : -Marburg
virus was first described in 1967. During the 1960s it was noticed during
small outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in the German cities Marburg and
Frankfurt and the Yugoslav capital Belgrade. German workers were exposed to
tissues of infected grivet monkeys (the African green monkey, Chlorocebus
aethiops) at the city's former main industrial plant, the Behringwerke, then
part of Hoechst, and later part of CSL Behring. During these outbreaks, 31
people became infected and seven of them died. Marburgviruses appear to be confined to central and
eastern Africa, where outbreaks of MVD have been traced to humans who recently
visited or worked in caves. The Egyptian fruit bat is a suspected reservoir of
marburgviruses; in addition to the isolation of marburgviruses from the
species, its geographical distribution overlaps with the distribution of MVD
outbreaks.
Transmission:-Initially, human MVD infection results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies.
Marburg spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed MVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced. Transmission via contaminated injection equipment or through needle-stick injuries is associated with more severe disease, rapid deterioration, and, possibly, a higher fatality rate.
Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased can also contribute in the transmission of Marburg.
People remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.
Symptoms of Marburg virus disease:-The incubation period (interval from infection to onset of symptoms) varies from 2 to 21 days.
Illness
caused by Marburg virus begins abruptly, with high fever, severe headache and
severe malaise. Muscle aches and pains are a common feature. Severe watery
diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting can begin on the
third day. Diarrhoea can persist for a week. The appearance of patients at this
phase has been described as showing “ghost-like” drawn features, deep-set eyes,
expressionless faces, and extreme lethargy. In the 1967 European outbreak,
non-itchy rash was a feature noted in most patients between 2 and 7 days after
onset of symptoms.
Many
patients develop severe haemorrhagic manifestations between 5 and 7 days, and
fatal cases usually have some form of bleeding, often from multiple areas.
Fresh blood in vomitus and faeces is often accompanied by bleeding from the
nose, gums, and vagina. Spontaneous bleeding at venepuncture sites (where
intravenous access is obtained to give fluids or obtain blood samples) can be
particularly troublesome. During the severe phase of illness, patients have
sustained high fevers. Involvement of the central nervous system can result in
confusion, irritability, and aggression. Orchitis (inflammation of one or both
testicles) has been reported occasionally in the late phase of disease (15
days).
In fatal
cases, death occurs most often between 8 and 9 days after symptom onset,
usually preceded by severe blood loss and shock.
Treatment and vaccines:-Supportive care – rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids – and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival. There is as yet no proven treatment available for MVD. However, a range of potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are currently being evaluated.
Ebola virus
About in brief : -Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans.
The virus is
transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population
through human-to-human transmission.
The Ebola
virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. EVD
first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in what is now Nzara,
South Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, DRC. The latter occurred in a village
near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.
The
2014–2016 outbreak in West Africa was the largest Ebola outbreak since the
virus was first discovered in 1976. The outbreak started in Guinea and then
moved across land borders to Sierra Leone and Liberia. The current 2018-2019
outbreak in eastern DRC is highly complex, with insecurity adversely affecting
public health response activities.
Transmission:-It is thought that fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope or porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.
Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with:
Blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola
Objects that
have been contaminated with body fluids (like blood, feces, vomit) from a
person sick with Ebola or the body of a person who died from Ebola
Health-care
workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or
confirmed EVD. This occurs through close contact with patients when infection
control precautions are not strictly practiced.
Burial ceremonies that involve direct contact with the body of the deceased can also contribute in the transmission of Ebola.
People remain infectious as long as their blood contains the virus.
Symptoms:-The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days. A person infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until they develop symptoms.
Symptoms of
EVD can be sudden and include:
· Fever
· Fatigue
· Muscle pain
· Headache
· Sore throat
This is
followed by:
· Vomiting
· Diarrhoea
· Rash
· Symptoms of impaired kidney and liver
function
In some
cases, both internal and external bleeding (for example, oozing from the gums,
or blood in the stools).
Laboratory
findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver
enzymes
Diagnosis:-It can be difficult to clinically distinguish EVD from other infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever and meningitis. Many symptoms of pregnancy and Ebola disease are also quite similar. Because of risks to the pregnancy, pregnant women should ideally be tested rapidly if Ebola is suspected.
Confirmation
that symptoms are caused by Ebola virus infection are made using the following
diagnostic methods:
· antibody-capture enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
· antigen-capture detection tests
· serum neutralization test
· reverse transcriptase polymerase
chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay
· electron microscopy
· ·virus isolation by cell culture.
Careful
consideration should be given to the selection of diagnostic tests, which take
into account technical specifications, disease incidence and prevalence, and
social and medical implications of test results. It is strongly recommended
that diagnostic tests, which have undergone an independent and international
evaluation, be considered for use.
Treatment:-Supportive care - rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids - and treatment of specific symptoms improves survival. There is as yet no proven treatment available for EVD. However, a range of potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are currently being evaluated.
Vaccines:-An experimental Ebola vaccine proved highly protective against EVD in a major trial in Guinea in 2015. The vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, was studied in a trial involving 11 841 people. Among the 5837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination. In comparison, there were 23 cases 10 days or more after vaccination among those who did not receive the vaccine.
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