2014-07-22 11:57:00

FAO calls for more Ebola awareness to Africa’s rural communities


(Vatican Radio) The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has added its voice to what many are now describing as the worst-ever Ebola epidemic outbreak. The West Africa Ebola epidemic has taken longer to bring under control and has had a much higher mortality toll than in previous known Ebola outbreaks. FAO says increased efforts are needed to improve awareness among Africa’s rural communities especially those in West Africa about the risks of contracting the Ebola virus from eating certain wildlife species including fruit bats.

FAO says it is working closely with the World Health Organisation (WHO) to raise awareness of the transmission risks from wildlife among rural communities that hunt for bush meat - or meat obtained from the forests - to supplement their diets and income. These communities risk future spill-over from species that can carry the virus, including fruit bats, some primates, and duikers.

“We are not suggesting that people stop hunting altogether, which isn’t realistic,” said FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Juan Lubroth. “But communities need clear advice on the need not to touch dead animals or to sell or eat the meat of any animal that they find already dead. They should also avoid hunting animals that are sick or behaving strangely, as this is another red flag.”

Fruit bats – usually eaten dried or in a spicy soup – are thought to be the most likely reservoir species for the virus, which they can carry without developing clinical signs of the disease, and should be avoided altogether, according to FAO.  “The virus is killed when meat is cooked at a high temperatures or heavily smoked, but anyone who handles, skins or butchers an infected wild animal is at risk of contracting the virus,” Lubroth said.

While several Governments in West Africa have attempted to outlaw the sale and consumption of bush meat, bans have proved futile to enforce and have met with suspicion from rural communities. African Governments are now being encouraged to strive towards high quality health-service provision and supply of drugs rather than on bans and threats of prosecution. The co-operation of citizens is crucial if this outbreak is to be contained.

Ebola is an infectious virus disease. The disease is transmitted to people from animals and then between people through coming into contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected person. At first, patients present with fever, weakness, muscle pain, headaches and sore throats. Later, there is vomiting, diarrhoea, impaired organ function and bleeding. There is no known vaccine.

The current outbreak started in March 2014 when Guinea notified WHO about cases of the Ebola virus Disease. The scale of the ongoing outbreak is unprecedented.

People most at risk of infection are family members and often health workers who may come into contact with infectious secretions. According to WHO, if an outbreak is suspected, the premises should be quarantined immediately. Discarding of infected animals, with close supervision of burial or incineration of carcasses, may be necessary to reduce the risk of animal-to-human transmission. Restricting or banning the movement of animals from infected farms to other areas can reduce the spread of the disease. 

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