What Seniors Need To Know About Ebola

Ebola: Don’t worry, don’t panic, just be cautious. 

Every time we turn on the news or read a paper these days there’s a story about the spread of Ebola. The sheer amount of reporting about the virus, and suggestion of an Ebola epidemic, has caused panic among a great number of people in society; especially those travelling on an airplane or staying in a hospital. But should seniors in particular be concerned? How about those living in assisted living residences? Many experts agree the answer is no.

 

For example, in their article Advice For Seniors: Don't Panic About Ebola. Get A Flu Shot And Wash Your Hands Instead, Forbes Magazine writes:

“If you are 65 or older and living in America, your chances of getting Ebola are vanishingly small. You are far more likely to contract — and die from — everyday infectious diseases such as flu, a variety of stomach viruses, or common bacteria such as C. difficile (c. dif.) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

These common infectious diseases are responsible for one-third of all deaths among older adults in the U.S. while Ebola has been responsible for none.

The thing is, instead of sitting wide-eyed in front of your TV listening to the latest hysterical and unconfirmed rumor about Ebola … you can dramatically reduce your chances of getting many of these deadly infections by taking two simple steps. First, please get a flu shot. And wash your hands frequently—and make sure your visitors, caregivers, and health workers do to.”

 

On October 18, 2014, in his weekly address at the White House, President Barack Obama discussed the issue of Ebola, and reassured the nation not to panic, “Ebola is actually a difficult disease to catch. It’s not transmitted through the air like the flu. You cannot get it from just riding on a plane or a bus. The only way that a person can contract the disease is by coming into direct contact with the bodily fluids of somebody who is already showing symptoms. I’ve met and hugged some of the doctors and nurses who’ve treated Ebola patients. I’ve met with an Ebola patient who recovered, right in the Oval Office. And I’m fine.”

And while there was news on October 6th that two staff members of the Windsor Senior Living community in Dallas, Texas have been quarantined and are being monitored for signs of Ebola, a letter from managers at the Windsor Senior Living Center informed residents and staff that two employees were quarantined because of their close association with Thomas Eric Duncan, the Liberian man who was the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. The letter went on to stress that there is no risk to anyone at the center.

 

About Ebola

The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. Ebola virus disease (EVD) first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in Nzara, Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.

• Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
• The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
• The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
• Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilization.
• Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is as yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development.
• There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but 2 potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.

 

The outbreak in West Africa, (first cases notified in March 2014), is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. There have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined. It has also spread between countries starting in Guinea then spreading across land borders to Sierra Leone and Liberia, by air (1 traveler only) to Nigeria, and by land (1 traveler) to Senegal. For more details about Ebola, visit the World Health Organization (WHO) website. On October 20, 2014, WHO officially declared that Nigeria is now free of Ebola virus transmission. 

Don’t misunderstand. Ebola is deadly. And without proper infection control it can spread quickly. But there’s no need to panic. Just keep doing what you do to remain healthy. Keep your doctor’s appointments, get your flu shot, and wash your hands often. For more information about how Ebola spreads and protecting oneself from contracting it, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

If you’re presently seeking a senior apartment, independent-living, assisted-living, or other continuing-care community for yourself or a senior loved one, don’t forget to visit alternativesforseniors.com to assist your search. Or call an Alternatives for Seniors Senior Specialist at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747).

 

BLOG Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Writer: Ryan Allen