Hand Sanitizers and Ebola - What You Need to Know

Introduction

Ebola is a rare (worldwide) but common viral disease in some West African countries which causes bleeding inside and outside the body. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus.Common Ebola signs and symptoms include

• Fever ( Body temperature greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal (stomach) pain
• Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)

The World Health Organisation have reported that the total number of probable, confirmed and suspected cases in the current outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa is 4,269, with 2,288 deaths, as of the 6th September 2014. Countries affected to date are Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.

 In the past few weeks, cases have dramatically increased, with widespread and intense transmission. In view of this, people have adopted many ways of preventing infection and the use of hand sanitizers is no exception.

Hand Sanitizers

Washing the hands with water and soap is always the best way to reduce the number of microbes on them. Soap and water are not always available, as people are mostly always on the move, hence the use of a portable alternative- hand sanitizers.

A hand sanitizer or hand antiseptic is a supplement or alternative to hand washing with soap and water. Antiseptics are antimicrobial substances that are applied to living tissue/skin to reduce the possibility of infection, inflammation and decomposition of proteins (putrefaction). Many sanitizer preparations are available including gel, foam and liquid solutions.

The active ingredient in most hand sanitizers is alcohol. The level of alcohol varies between 60% and 85%. Alcohol rub sanitizers kill most bacterial, fungi and stop some viruses. Alcohol rub sanitizers containing at least 70% alcohol kill 99.99% of the bacterial on hands in one minute of application. Very high alcohol (>90%) sanitizers have very high virucidal (virus-killing) activities against many different kinds of viruses but are highly flammable and irritating to the skin with prolong use.


New Ebola Vaccine developed.Watch video here

Do Hand Sanitizers Stop Ebola?

Though some sanitizers stop the activities of some viruses, only Supernova, an alcohol-free sanitizer, provides immediate germ protection against Ebola. In addition to washing of the hands frequently the following precautionary measures are highly recommended;

• avoid areas of known outbreaks, 
• avoid contact with infected people
• avoid eating wild meat
• use gloves and other protection
• do not handle remains of those who died from ebola. 

Of the above precautionary measures, I think avoiding people suspected to be infected with the ebola virus is the best.

Enjoyed reading this? Kindly drop your comment below and don't forget to subscribe to this blog for more interesting articles.
 
You may also like;
Ebola Vrs 2015 African Cup of Nations
Science Conference; Gene Repair in Combatting Ebola and AIDS in Africa