While a large Ebola outbreak continues in West Africa, the risk of an outbreak in the United States is very small. There are currently NO confirmed cases of Ebola in Montgomery County or in the Washington area. A nurse who cared for an Ebola patient in Dallas, Texas was treated at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, which is specially equipped to handle such cases. She was discharged from NIH on October 24, 2014. If there is a confirmed case of Ebola infection in Washington DC Metro area, the various Departments of Health and Human Services and local hospitals will work together to respond and limit spread of the disease.
We have learned several valuable lessons since Thomas Duncan was diagnosed with the Ebola virus, namely how health care workers can protect themselves and how the public can take certain measures.
Information about how Ebola spreads:
- Ebola is NOT spread through the air or by water or by food.
- A person infected with Ebola virus in NOT contagious until symptoms appear.
- The virus is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or unprotected mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose or mouth) with the blood or bodily fluids (such as urine, feces, saliva, semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola, or with objects like needles that have been contaminated with the virus, or infected animals.
Clinical mental health counselors (CMHCs) and other mental health practitioners can help clients who are suffering due anxiety and emotional stress brought about by all the news coverage and uncertainty about Ebola, by emphasizing clients and the public to:
- Keep things in perspective. CMHCs can help limit worry and agitation by encouraging that they lessen the time individuals and families spend watching or listening to upsetting media coverage.
- Stay healthy. CMHCs need to convey that the risk of Ebola transmission is extremely low and that a healthy lifestyle — including proper diet and exercise — is your best defense against any threat.
- Adopt hygienic habits. Simple things such as washing your hands regularly will also minimize an individual’s exposure to all types of germs and disease sources.
- Keep connected. The public needs to maintain social networks & activities which can help maintain a sense of normalcy, and provide key outlets for sharing feelings and relieving stress.
Convey as part of the engagement with clients to eat healthy, avoid alcohol and drugs and take a walk or exercise. A healthy body can have a positive impact on one’s thoughts and emotions.
For the general public – Get the facts from experts. Stay healthy. Gain some perspective.