This is to inform all stakeholders in the health sector of the confirmation of seven (7) cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in Guinea on I4th February 2021. Three of the cases have died from the disease.
EVD in a severe, often fatal Illness in humans caused by the Ebola virus. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. It can be transmitted through human contact with body fluids of a person infected with the virus. These body fluids include blood, saliva, vomitus, urine, sweat and semen. Major symptoms of the disease include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle pain, unexplained bleeding tendencies from nose, gums, vagina, skin or eyes, as well as vomiting and diarrhoea.
All regions, districts and health facilities are to initiate preparedness and response plans for EVD.
All Regional and District Public Health Emergency Management Committees should include EVD on their agenda Additionally, regions, districts, health facilities, port health units at all border posts particular along the Western border and all landing beaches are to heighten surveillance for EVD using the standard case definition (attached). They are also requested to remind all Ghanaians and residents in Ghana on the need to protect themselves from the disease. These preventive measure include:
S Avoid contact with blood and body fluids (such as urine, saliva, sweat, faeces, vomit, breast milk and semen) of people who show any of the symptoms above.
S Practice hand hygiene: frequent hand washing with soup and under running water or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
S Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person's blood or body fluids.
CASE DEFINITION OF EVD
SUSPECTED CASE
Any person, alive or dead suffering or having suffered from a sudden onset of fever (37.8OC and above) and has not responded to treatment of usual diseases in the area, and has at least 3 or more of any of the fallowing signs:
|
General weakness |
Abdominal pain |
|
Anorexia (loss of appetite) |
Muscle or joint pain |
|
Vomiting |
Difficulty in breathing |
|
Watery diarrhoea |
Difficulty in swallowing |
|
Headache |
Hiccups |
|
Bloody diarrhoea |
Bleeding from nose, gums, skin etc |
OR
Any person who has travelled to or slayed in an area/country that is currently experiencing an EVD outbreak, within a period of 21 days before the onset of symptoms, presents with sudden onset of fever (37.8OC and above) and at least three of the following symptoms:
|
General weakness |
Abdominal pain |
|
Anorexia (loss of appetite) |
Muscle or joint pain |
|
Vomiting |
Difficulty in breathing |
|
Watery diarrhoea |
Difficulty in swallowing |
|
Headache |
Hiccups |
|
Bloody diarrhoea |
Bleeding from nose, gums, skin etc |
OR
Any person with inexplicable bleeding.
OR
Any sudden, inexplicable death.
CONFIRMED CASE
A suspected case with laboratory confirmation (positive 1gM antibody, positive PCR or viral isolation) or epidemiologic link to confirmed cases or outbreak.
S Avoid contact with dead bodies, including participating in funeral or burial rituals of suspected or confirmed Ebola cases.
S Avoid contact with animals (such as bats or monkeys) or with raw or undercooked meat.
S Do not handle bush meat (wild animals hunted for food).
S Seek medical care immediately (nearest health facility) if one develops fever (body temperature 38OC and above) or other symptoms such as severe headache, fatigue (feeling very tired), muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.
We are to take not and remind the general public that, under no circumstance should public or private transport be used in transporting suspected EVD case. They are to call for support from the District Director of Health Services of respective Districts, Municipalities or Metropolis in the transfer of such persons to a health facility.
Thank You
Signed,
DR. PATRICK KUMA-ABOAGYE
DIRECTOR GENERAL
GHANA HEALTH SERVICE
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