Tips To Help Prevent the Spread of Ebola in Offices, Work Places and Business Premises

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is spread through contact with the body fluids of an infected person either dead or alive. An infected person will usually be acutely ill with the virus before he or she will be able to transmit it to another person. People can also become infected from indirect contact by having broken skin or mucous membranes come in contact with materials or utensils contaminated with blood, secretions, or other body fluids from sick people and bodies e.g. used gloves, medical waste, bed clothes, medical instruments.

The Ebola outbreak is not just a public health emergency, but an issue of occupational safety and health. The good news is that Ebola cannot survive soap, sanitizers, bleach or a good measure of sunlight. So how do we prevent the Spread of Ebola in Offices, Work Places and Business Premises? A good way to do this would be to learn from the story of Nigeria. Nigeria has been able to stamp the Ebola virus out of its territory through public/private partnerships that has helped prevent its spread in schools and workplaces.

The following tips will prevent the Spread of Ebola in Offices, Work Places and Business Premises:

·         Avoid contact with any person who appears to be acutely ill.

·         Employees should be properly educated on how to protect themselves from and prevent the spread of the Ebola virus.

·         Infrared thermometers should be used to screen people entering into business places. Anyone with an unusually high temperature should be reported to health officials.

·         Avoid making business travels to places known to have been hit by the virus

·         Get hand sanitizers for people to use in your office and educate them on the importance of sanitizers.

·         Wash your hands regularly with liquid soap and running water.

·         Every organization should have running water and liquid soaps or hand sanitizers within its premises. In the event of an outbreak, all visitors must ensure they sanitize their hands before entrance.

·         Be careful with hands when using railings on the stairs, door knobs and other utilities used by the public

·         In areas where Ebola virus is reported, workers handling animals should wear gloves and other appropriate personal protective equipment and clothing.