Managing Ebola at home

Given the extremely infectious nature of
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), it is usually
recommended that all infected persons
should be admitted to an isolation unit in a
healthcare facility.
Experts say that such movement is very
critical to maximize the chances of the
person’s survival, protect family members
and break the transmission of the virus to
others.
However, in some cases where medical help
cannot reach the infected person fast,
experts say that where the right precautions
are taken, Ebola can be managed at home
while waiting for an ambulance from the
isolation centre to arrive, and thereby reduce
infection of other family members.
Information gleaned from a document
provided by the Ebola Emergency Operations
Centre (EEOC) in Lagos, gives the following
vital advice.
• The patient should be restricted to one room
or area of the household and if possible the
area should be roped off.
• The patient should be restricted to one toilet
and bath. Other family members should not
use it. • If care must be given to the patient,
one family member should be designated to
provide the care while avoiding direct contact
with the infected person.
• Waterproof gloves without holes, such as
household heavy-duty rubber gloves, should
be worn before entering the room and before
touching any surfaces or the patient. Hands
must be washed very well before and after
entering the patient’s room. Avoid stepping
on any fluids (such as vomit, urine, blood or
diarrhea) of the patient.
• When giving care, it is advised that the
caregiver must always stay behind the
patient and avoid any direct contact with the
patient’s clothes, beddings and other house­
hold items that the patient may have touched
such as bowls, cups and plates.
• A mask or dry towel should be wrapped
around the face to protect the mouth and
nose when entering the patient’s room.
• If any cleaning must be done, caregivers
must use diluted bleach solution, which must
be made afresh every 24 hours as the solu­
tion loses its effectiveness within that time
frame.
• Soiled towels and gloves must be soaked in
a bucket filled with bleach solution for at least
one hour before washing. After an hour, the
towels can be washed with soap and re-used
once they are dry. Never put bleach or its
solution into the patient’s mouth or eyes. Use
bleach-soaked towels for carrying or moving
the patient.
• In the event of the patient’s death, it is
highly recommended that the body should not
be touched at all as it is highly infectious. The
caregiver should notify health authorities to
retrieve it.