Tema On Ebola Alert

The Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate says it has put in measures to detect and contain the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the Metropolis. �We have organised activities to sensitise health providers at the Tema Port and health facilities, while community leaders have been educated to use established channels of communication to reach out to people among others,� Dr John Yaboni, Director, Tema Metropolitan Health Directorate, said. In an interview with Ghana News Agency, he said since Tema is a Harbour city where all manner of persons from all parts of the world interact. It stands a high chance of contracting such communicable diseases hence the need to be alert. Dr Yabani, who called for calm, said there would be a hotline for the disease control officer where residents could call to report any sign or symptoms of the Ebola disease. He advised against the consumption of bush meat as wild animals such as rodents, monkeys, porcupines and bats could transmit the virus to humans when eaten. The Director said Ebola disease has no cure or vaccine for both human and animals, saying the virus can kill any human within three to 21 days. �Some symptoms of the disease are fever, headache, general body pains, vomiting, diarrhoea and rashes. Others are bleeding from all parts of the body like the eye, anus and gums. He advised the people to constantly wash their hands with soap under running water and should also avoid eating uncooked meat. The virus was first discovered in Congo in the year 1976 near a river called Ebola.