Controlling Ebola Outbreak Once Again

The good news is that, the World Health Organization has announced the Ebola outbreak in three west African countries finally ended as virus spread of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone is now under control. Margaret Chan, MD, WHO Director-General, mentioned that the Ebola-free status is a “monumental achievement”. He also congratulated incredible efforts of national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and worldwide organizations, and generous partners, etc. Bruce Aylward, MD, MPH, the WHO’s assistant director-general in charge of Ebola outbreak response, confirmed that, there are rare chances flare-ups of this disease again as virus spread has been decreased significantly from respective population. Mr. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) warned that, Ebola is a threat which is not so easily going to disappear especially from the areas where it had appeared before. This can be also found to be true by the two recent flare-ups in Liberia in November, although in May 2015 the nation had been declared Ebola-free. 

Ebola Virus 

Ebola is a disease caused by entry of any Ebola virus strain belonging to filoviridae family into the body. The transmission of the Ebola virus can be due to coming in the contact with the body fluids (e.g. faeces and urine, vomit, semen and sweat), or from direct contact of broken skin and mucous membranes with blood of an infected person. When virus enters into the body it multiplies and lead to harmful health effects like severe bleeding (hemorrhaging), organ failure and death. Previously it was postulated that, transmission of Ebola virus can happen via drinking-water contaminated by faeces or urine. So, for checking fecal contamination of the water resources microbiological testing of water came into existence to detect coliforms in drinking water indicating fecal contamination. But, further researched proved that the chances of surviving virus outside of the body were almost negligible. Then, further study also proved that, the virus is deactivated within few minutes of being in water.

In recent Ebola outbreak nearby 28,500 people were infected and around 11,300 died due to it. Hence, it is clear that with continuous phenomenal collective efforts by various communities the goal of Ebola-free Liberia was successfully achieved and also, 200 volunteers completed Ebola trial test. When the outbreak was observed, to control over it the US-joint Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccines in Liberia (PREVAIL) clinical trial tests were conducted. Last week 200 of them were certified only after one year of observation confirming absence of any symptoms. This clinical trial was also a part of efforts to stop Ebola disease spread and prevent frequent outbreaks. Also, on top of it, an independent commission of 17 experts in public health, research and finance have been appointed for greater global investment in preventing future epidemics.

Don’t Blame Your Thyroid For Everything :

Thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland situated at the base of the throat, which secretes thyroid hormones that helps into maintaining body temperature,metabolism, synthesis of proteins also, helps brain, heart, muscles, liver, kidneys and other organs to perform their respective functions. Hence, it is extremely important to know proper functioning of the body’s overall well-being. Whenever there is a sudden weight gain or feeling of the restlessness, people often blame it on thyroid. These can be some of them, rightfully so. When your thyroid gland fail to release enough hormones or release excess of hormones this further causes underactive thyroid which can cause fatigue, low energy, weight gain, depression, dry skin, hair loss, constipation etc on other hand excess of thyroid secretion can cause irritability, rapid heart rate, weight loss, sleeplessness, sensitivity to heat, and diarrhoea.

Thyroid
Image Courtesy : dianeatwood.com

Unless you have done with a blood test from the best pathology labs in India for confirming your thyroid hormone levels then, chances are there that your are blaming the thyroid wrongly and the actual cause can be another medical condition. The simple blood test can able to detect how much your thyroid hormone levels deviate from the normal, especially when there is a severe imbalance. Hence, though you are suffering from the any of the symptom related to thyroid and suspicious about same then, it’s always better to consult your GP.  The cause of behind the symptoms is very important since the symptoms of thyroid abnormalities are common hence, there are large possibilities that the root cause of them may not be thyroid abnormality. According to the recent research survey conducted more than 15% of people with properly functioning thyroid showed four or more symptoms that can be associated with underactive or hyperactive secretion of the thyroid gland. So, it is obvious that above mentioned symptoms might not always attribute to the thyroid alone. 

As mentioned earlier people with the underactive thyroid levels known to report fatigue, hypothyroidism with proper medical treatment can make you feel much better. Still if no effects can be seen even after modifying thyroid levels with the help of medications then, the actual cause of fatigue can be something else. Hence, it’s not always thyroid that needs to be blamed. After confirming from physician and blood test from the diagnostic centre that thyroid levels are withing normal range then, the conditions such as sleep apnea or depression can drain you. This was just about fatigue and tiredness, the same can be applicable for other symptoms related to thyroid. Hence, don’t blame thyroid for everything.