Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: bingbisnar19 on 02/11/2014 23:48:31
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Practical tips how to avoid ebola virus
Evola virus, by itself, is not airborne. Quite a relief. It requires a host, re-saliva body fluid containing evola virus to be transmitted. Sometimes, a cough, mouthing from evola victim carries such saliva, fluid to another person face, there is a risk. Thus, it is just a safety measure to wear mask, gloves, sunglass. But the number one culprit of evola virus is the hand. The hand is the only part of human that can reach the mouth, nose, ears, eyes. The hands, like that of doctors, health workers, nurses touches the ebola victims, give injection, change clothing, give medicines, and regularly visit and make direct contact with the patients with their hands. It is likely that after they are through with the ebola victims, change clothings, remove gloves that the all utility hand is exposed. Though there are many protective measures, like mask, gloves, or total health suit, maybe this suggestion can be of further help:: paste pomade or cooking oil, or lard, etc. all over hand to elbow (particularly in Liberia, etc. where ebola is outbreak). as fluid with escaped ebola virus would stick to such medication and be deterred from being transferred to new host. Besides, with oil paste all over the hand, one is deterred from using the hand to reach mouth, nose, ears, eyes, the entrances of evola virus. (Health workers, nurses, doctors maybe advisable to paste oil to their hands after daily visit with ebola victims in the hospital. Undersigned does not believe evola virus can live for long in such unfriendly atmosphere.: no bacteria nor virus can survive in oil.
Jose s. aldea
9.24.14
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As far as oiling up the hands to prevent transmission... Before recommending any new protocol, it should be tested for efficacy. I'm not sure how to effectively do it with Ebola, but perhaps having nurses at one clinic use it to augment their standard protocol, and then observing secondary infection rates. Also, make sure it actually kills the viruses, rather than giving more material to spread with. A hand oil, grease,cream would tend to get onto everything the person touches, computers, door knobs, etc. And, may tend to soak in quickly, so it would need to be constantly replenished.
Gloves certainly would help with casual transmission, and should be changed several times a day as a person moves from one environment to another. And, of course, regularly washing the hands.
There has been a lot of discussion about funeral ceremonies on the news. However, perhaps society would benefit from reconsidering simple things like hand shakes, hugs, and kisses as greetings. Less casual contact would help prevent the transmission of Ebola, as well as other diseases such as lice, and perhaps even the common cold.
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paste ... cooking oil, or lard, etc. all over hand to elbow
I would be concerned that nurses who must give injections and insert drips into veins would have great difficulty if their hands were lubricated with oil. It would cause more slips, and perhaps more needle-stick injuries.