Delta State Government has called on its residents to adopt precautionary measures to prevent the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) currently ravaging some West African countries from infiltrating the State.

In a statement released by the State Ministry of Health and made available to Blank NEWS Online on Saturday, August 2, 2014, the government hinted that the Ebola Virus infects humans through contact with some animals.

According to the statement, infected persons could transfer to other persons through physical contact with body fluids such as saliva, vomit, blood, faeces, sweat, and urine, adding it could also be transmitted from the dead bodies of those killed by the disease.

The statement described symptoms of the Ebola sickness as similar to malaria; listing them to include headache, fever, muscle pain, nausea, tiredness, diarrhoea characterised by vomiting and stooling with blood, coughing of blood and skin swellings that contain blood, warning that family members and health workers are mostly at risk of being infected.

The statement further warned that while there is no known cure to the Ebola disease, residents in the state should abstain from touching with bare hands persons infected with the sickness, their urine, excreta, sweat, vomit, blood or any liquid from their bodies.

It added that caring for victims or handling of the corpses of Ebola victims with bare hands should be avoided, stressing that health workers and relations of infected persons should endeavour to put on protective kits such as clothing, glasses, caps, gloves and boots.

It also warned that for the time being, residents should abstain from touching or eating bush meat, fruit bats, monkeys, chimpanzees or food and fruits eaten by animals saying however that if their meat must be eaten, they must be handled with care and cook very well to kill any germ.

The statement advised residents to wash their hands thoroughly with soap always and avoid travelling to places where the disease is still spreading fast.

It also enjoined residents to promptly report any suspected sign of Ebola Virus Disease to the nearest hospital or health centre or call the Delta State Epidemiologist on 08063927202 or 07037120510 or 08037438829.