Fear of Ebola FeverWritten by Loring A. Windblad
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Although Ebola fever is a fearsome disease, World Health Organization (WHO) officials who studied earlier outbreaks concluded that it's not easily transmitted. The virus spreads from person to person by direct contact, mostly via face to face closeness and through blood and body fluids (saliva, urine) and is often passed from ill patients to those nursing them, especially if precautionary measures aren't up to scratch. Ebola fever does not seem to be an airborne disease and simple infection control measures such as wearing gloves and masks, using disposable needles, and strict body-fluid precautions, often suffice to prevent transmission. Experience from earlier Ebola fever outbreaks gives no cause for alarm in Canada. The first known outbreaks of Ebola virus disease occurred almost simultaneously in 1976 in northern Zaire and southern Sudan, in centres about 200 km apart. A second Sudanese outbreak three years later provided much of information available about its symptoms and spread. In both Zaire and Sudan outbreaks, action was remarkably swift. Patients were tracked, villages quarantined and epidemic halted within eight weeks. However, modern air travel could zip Ebola virus from Africa to downtown Montreal, Toronto or Vancouver in 24 hours, hence public worries about it. In Canada, despite reassurances from public health officials, who have firmly stated that there's no threat of an Ebola epidemic here, one traveller who arrived by air from Zaire was detained, and call-in TV shows have been abuzz with people worrying that Ebola virus might get a toehold in this country. Officials reiterate that this is highly unlikely as it's not easily transmitted, and our stringent "universal precautions" practiced in hospital, with effective use of masks, gloves and gowns, can prevent spread. Although Ebola virus was first discovered 20 years ago, there is still no vaccine or effective cure. Outbreaks have been confined to certain parts of Africa and infection has never been detected in humans outside that continent. Although outbreaks tend to involve serious illness, milder infection might also exist and confer immunity. Public health officials repeat that, based on everything known about it, an Ebola virus epidemic in Canada is highly unlikely. Theoretically it is possible for an infected person from Africa to arrive here on a plane and spread it, but it's improbable as people must be ill with disease to be infectious and they would likely be picked up by immigration officials, or too sick to travel.
Loring Windblad has studied nutrition and exercise for more than 40 years, is a published author and freelance writer. His latest business endeavor is at: http://www.organicgreens.us
| | Herbal Menopause TreatmentsWritten by Ratliff J
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MellowPause - While soy has been shown to have positive effect on hormone balancing, MellowPause's combination of ingredients make it effective for not only hormone balancing, but helps with other menopausal symptoms such as irritability, mood swings and insomnia. Menopause is point at which a woman stops ovulating and menstruation ceases, indicating end of fertility. Menopause is as natural a progression in life as puberty. For most women, natural hormone production begins to slow down when they reach their thirties, and continues to diminish as they age. Many women experience few if any symptoms during this time but others may suffer from some or all of following; anxiety, dry skin, fatigue, feelings of bloating, headaches, heart palpitations, hot flashes, insomnia, irritability decreases interest in sex, loss of concentration, mood swings, night sweats, reduces stamina, urinary incontinence, vaginal dryness and itching and weight gain. Learn more about hebal menopause remedies at Herbal Menopause.
J. Ratliff is an avid health writer for Askwellness.com.
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