Ebola Myths & Facts For Dummies

by Edward K. Chapnick

Overview

Concerned about Ebola, but can't seem to separate fact from fiction? You're not alone - misinformation abounds about the virus. Ebola Myths & Facts For Dummies dives in to the details of the virus to let you know the history of Ebola, signs and symptoms, testing protocols, modes of transportation, and ways to prevent and treat the virus. Get started with Ebola myths and facts-find out, what Ebola is, who it affects, where it began, why it's a global concern, and how it's transmitted, Stay safe and healthy - understand the realities of Ebola for healthcare workers, how to prevent transmission, how to recognize symptoms, and what to do if symptoms are present, A look to the future - get the lowdown on the global and political impact of the virus, ongoing humanitarian efforts, and the ways that organizations, governments, and hospitals are preparing for Ebola, Arm yourself with information - discover how to avoid stigmatizing Ebola patients and healthcare workers and how to contribute personally to those affected in Africa, Open the book and find: A complete overview of the Ebola virus, Detailed information on symptoms, Information about transmission and prevention, The lowdown on diagnosis and treatment, Details on the politics and policies of Ebola, How the world's hospitals are preparing for the disease, Ways that you can help organizations battling the virus

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781119066224
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/07/2015
Series:	For Dummies Books
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Dr. Edward Chapnick publishes extenstively and is currently active in research. He has a wide spectrum of affiliations, such as the International Society of Travel Medicine, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, American College of Physicians, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, among others. Dr. Chapnick and Maimonides Medical Center are actively involved in the Ebola preparedness activities recommended by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, the New York State Department of Health, and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

About This Book 2

Foolish Assumptions 2

Icons Used in This Book 3

Beyond the Book 3

Where to Go from Here 4

Part I Getting Started with Ebola Myths & Facts 5

Chapter 1 The Lowdown on Ebola 7

Answering the 5 Ws and 1 H About Ebola 7

Grasping what Ebola is 8

Understanding who Ebola affects the most 8

Eyeing where Ebola makes its mark 8

Knowing when Ebola became a concern 9

Comprehending why Ebola is a global concern 9

Examining bow Ebola is transmitted 10

Noticing the Symptoms 11

Arming Yourself: Prevention Is Key 11

What to do if you're a healthcare worker 12

What society can do 13

Testing for Ebola 13

Undergoing Treatment 14

Making a Recovery 14

Looking at the Future of Ebola 15

Eyeing West Africa: At most risk 15

Providing help 16

Chapter 2 Examining the Science and History of Ebola 17

Knowing What a Virus Is 18

Discovering Ebola 19

Identifying the five species of Ebola 19

Eyeing the outbreaks 20

Understanding How Ebola Works 21

Explaining the Biosafety Level of Ebola 23

Chapter 3 Taking a Closer Look at the 2014 Outbreak 25

Eyeing Ground Zero: West Africa 25

Identifying the affected countries 27

Discovering why Ebola has spread so far and fast in West Africa 30

Focusing on the United States and Western Europe 32

United States 32

Spain 34

Other European countries 34

Managing and Responding to the Current Outbreak 35

World Health Organization (WHO) 35

United Nations (UN) 35

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 36

State and local government/health officials 36

Walking the Line between Valid Concern and Hysteria 36

Common symptoms 37

Novelty 37

Media 38

Travel 38

Part II Keeping Yourself Safe and Healthy 39

Chapter 4 Considering Modes of Transmission and Prevention Methods 41

Seeing How Ebola Is Transmitted 41

Human-to-human contact with body fluids 42

Droplets 43

Contaminated syringes and medical waste 43

Funeral/burial traditions and other beliefs 44

Bush meat 45

Taking Precautions to Prevent Contracting Ebola 45

On an individual level 46

On a society level 47

Using Public Education as a Prevention Tool 49

Comprehending Special Prevention Measures For Healthcare Workers 50

Identify, isolate, inform 50

Using personal protective equipment (PPE) 51

Following good hygiene 52

Cleaning and maintaining work surfaces 52

Disposing properly of human remains and medical waste 53

Post-return quarantining, isolating, and monitoring 53

Chapter 5 Receiving a Diagnosis and Undergoing Treatment 55

Recognizing the Symptoms 55

Knowing What to Do If You Think You or Someone Has Ebola 57

Identifying Everyone with Whom the Patient Has Had Contact 58

Testing and Diagnosing 60

Polymerase chain reaction test 60

Antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 61

Figuring Out the Politics behind Vaccines 62

Considering Treatments 63

Seeing the standard treatment 63

Eyeing the experimental treatment 64

Recovering from Ebola 67

Preparing for Post-Ebola Life 68

Part III Looking at Today and into the Future 69

Chapter 6 Eyeing the Geopolitical Outlook and Impact 71

Criticizing the WHO's Response to the 2014 Outbreak 71

Looking At the UN Mission for Ebola Emergency Response 73

Examining CDC's Response 74

Understand Why Humanitarian Aid Has Been Delayed 74

Funding 75

Healthcare workers 76

Other volunteers 78

Mobile labs/mini hospitals 78

Food and supplies 79

Air transport 79

Space 80

Education and outreach 80

How the Outbreak Has Impacted the Area and World 82

Children 82

Travel 83

Agriculture 83

Economy 83

Trade 84

Chapter 7 Just For Healthcare Workers: What You Need to Know 85

Planning before Your Trip 85

Being Precautious during Your Trip 86

Wearing the right gear: personal protective equipment (PPE) 87

Identifying and isolating patients 88

Preventing further infection 89

Identifying, isolating, and informing 89

Properly disposing of human remains 90

Knowing what to do if you get sick 92

Taking Actions after Your Trip 92

Traveling on a jet plane 92

Returning to your humble abode 94

Part IV The Part of Tens 95

Chapter 8 Ten Myths Clearly Busted about Ebola 97

Ebola Is Highly Contagious 97

Ebola Has a Cure and a Vaccine 98

Ebola Is a Death Sentence 99

Anyone Who Has Ebola Symptoms Should Be Isolated 100

The United States Isn't Ready 100

Ebola Is the World's Biggest Public Health Threat 101

You Need a Special Substance to Kill the Ebola Virus 101

Bringing Ebola Patients to the United States Puts You at Risk 101

Ebola Liquefies Your Organs, Which Causes the Bleeding 102

This Current Outbreak Is Unusually Strong and Deadly 102

Chapter 9 Ten Organizations That Are Helping Fight Ebola 103

Partners in Health 104

Save the Children 104

Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) 105

CDC Foundation 105

International Federation of Red Cross and Roil Crescent Societies 106

Americares 106

CARE 106

UN1CEF 107

Emergency USA 107

GlobalGiving's Ebola Relief Fund 108

Chapter 10 Ten Global Health Threats in Addition to Ebola 109

Influenza 109

Antibiotic Resistance 110

Measles 111

Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis 112

Congenital Syphilis 113

Malaria 113

Helminths 114

HIV/AIDS 114

Polio 115

Chagas Disease 116