Providing Care and Facing Death, Essay Example

Ebola is a virus that causes high morbidity in West Africa. Although scientists have yet to discover the reservoir through which this disease is transmitted to humans, Ebola is transmissible from human to human, which occurs quickly, and is therefore of deep concern. The virus can be transmitted from person to person in several different ways, including through infected bodily fluids, infected objects, and infected animals. While the disease is highly contagious, it is possible to prevent transmission provided that the affect populations have proper education and interventions available to them.

In high risk areas, it’s important to equip health care technicians and community leaders with protective gear to prevent initial infection, knowledge of the disease’s status to build towards acceptance in the community, and to inform the health care staff of the potential risks they face by working with these patients and to ensure that preventative measures are taken (Hewlett & Hewlett 1). However, it is not completely possible to prevent individuals from encountering Ebola, as many factors regarding this disease remain unknown.

Although we are aware that Ebola is transmitted through body fluids, there is no scientific consensus as to how they are involved in this process. This ultimately influences the current disease outbreak because it is impossible to determine how to alleviate the symptoms of or reduce its prevalence if we do not have the information necessary to be able to generate helpful interventions. Scientists need to gain a greater understanding of the Ebola infection process for the development of relevant treatments in addition to preventative care. Until this occurs, it is essential to identify individuals with Ebola and provide them with education so they are able to understand how to prevent the spread of this disease to others in their community.

Works Cited

Hewlett BL, Hewlett BS. “Providing Care and Facing Death: Nursing During Ebola Outbreaks in Central Africa”. 16.4(2005): 289-297.