Dr Joseph Kamugisha The whole world is currently concerned about the spread of the deadly Ebola virus that has claimed hundreds of lives in western Africa and other parts of the world. In East Africa there have been some cases of Ebola in Uganda and Sudan, and a few with suspicious cases in the neighbouring Burundi. But looking at the mode of Ebola virus transmission and spread, the disease can be controlled with stringent measures and close collaboration of health experts and authorities in various parts of the world. Based on collected information, the Ebola virus is not airborne and therefore other modes of spread can be controlled. For instance someone infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease through just cough. Instead one can get it when in contact with body fluids like tears, semen, breast milk, mucus, saliva, sweat, blood, urine and fecal material. The big problem with this virus is that it stays longer on an external surface after contact. For example if someone infected with Ebola touches the surface or any material, the Ebola virus can survive there for several hours. In case you come across the contaminated surface and happen to touch your eyes, mouth, nose or your wound, then there is a likelihood of contracting Ebola. In endangered areas, it is not advisable to even shake hands because a small droplet of the body fluid such as sweat from an infected person can easily spread ebola. There has been no evidence to support the spread of Ebola through an insect or mosquito bite. Animals or mammals such as human beings, apes, monkeys and bats have been found to be infected with Ebola virus and can spread the disease as well. What we have to agree about the Ebola disease is that it is more transmittable than most recent epidemics. In my view, the world health authorities should hasten to sensitize people on the general information as regards the spread of the disease for people to help each other. The world has always been hit with many epidemics and every epidemic comes with its challenges including the loss of lives. The only hope in this case is that Ebola is not an airborne disease. Even airborne diseases like chickenpox and tuberculosis have been controlled though not eradicated. These diseases have the capacity to travel through the air from one person to another without transfer of body fluids. The most difficult part with airborne diseases is that they travel from the lungs of one person to the lungs of another without contact or exchange of body fluids. The current Ebola virus can be regarded as a droplet-borne disease. This means that droplets of secretions such as vomit, mucus, cough and other body contents can transmit the Ebola virus. These droplets of secretions that contain the Ebola virus can infect someone nearby if the droplets come into contact with any of their mucosal linings, like those that protect the eyes, nasal passageway, and oral cavity. Therefore if you stay or live nearby someone who is infected with the Ebola virus, even if there is no exchange of body fluids, it is possible for you to become infected if that person releases enough droplets of virus via secretions. The Ebola virus causes deadly hemorrhagic fever and recent data collections indicate that over 70 percent of people with hemorrhagic fever disease die. This is confirmation of how debilitating the Ebola virus can be, but it is also confirmation that even if infected, some people are capable of recovering.My fear is that in the coming weeks, more infections will be confirmed in multiple countries. The current fight against Ebola is recommendable as response teams and trained health experts have been deployed at entrance points to monitor the spread of the disease. With enough supplies and trained response teams, even hardest hit areas should be able to prevent this outbreak from killing many people Dr Joseph Kamugisha is an oncologist at Rwanda Military Hospital, Kanombe
