Ebola Outbreak and Role of Nurses in It

This paper discusses the recent Ebola outbreak and the role of nurses in addressing it. It also covers the epidemiological triangle, health promoting interventions, and the impact of environmental and socio-economic factors.

Running head: EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

1EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
Executive Summary:
The aim of the paper is to discuss about an article released recently regarding an outbreak of
an infectious disease. The paper summarizes the article and states the role of the nurses who
are involved in tackling the outbreak. It also states the epidemiological triangle of the disease
which has led to the outbreak and the health promoting interventions and awareness programs
that should be carried out to resist the outbreaks. In conclusion it is stated that the cause of
the outbreaks are a result of some environmental and socio-economic factors which play a
role in the populations who dwell in such areas which are easily exposed to the animal
reservoirs of the infection.

2EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Summary of the article...............................................................................................................3
The epidemiological triangle (relationship between causal agent, susceptible person and
environmental factors)...............................................................................................................4
The role of the nurses in addressing the outbreak......................................................................5
Health promoting interventions..................................................................................................5
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................6
References..................................................................................................................................7

3EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
Introduction
The Ebola virus was identified back in 1976 after an outbreak in Zaire. Since then,
nine such major outbreaks have occurred (Alexander et al., 2015). The latest outbreak took
place in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Maganga et al., 2014). This paper aims to
discuss about a news article released recently which reports about the death of a nurse during
the onset of the Ebola outbreak. The paper further states the relationship between the
causative agent, the susceptible persons and the environmental factors in the context of Ebola
outbreak. Additionally, the paper mentions the role of the nurses in the addressing the
outbreak and the health promoting interventions used to mitigate it.
Summary of the article
The article taken into consideration for this report is titled “Nurse is first to die in
Congo's latest Ebola outbreak” abstracted from a news media ("Nurse becomes first to die in
DR Congo from Ebola outbreak", 2018). The articles summarizes the death of a nurse in the
later Ebola outbreak which took place in the Demographic Republic of Congo. The news was
further confirmed by the Health Ministry as reported by the article. The article reports that the
nurse had died in the nearby Ikoko Impenge, where she was doing an overnight shift, where
another seven patients showed symptoms of Ebola virus were admitted. Seventeen people are
known to have died, also three more nurses are being treated. The World Health Organization
(WHO) has started preparing for the worst case scenario which may occur if most of the
people dying are detected with the Ebola virus. Fortunately WHO could report that regional
spread risk was detected as moderate. The WHO-director also assured that with the consent
of the Congo’s health minister, the Ebola vaccines will be shipped as soon as possible.

4EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
The epidemiological triangle (relationship between causal agent,
susceptible person and environmental factors)
The causal agent was identified a strain of Ebolavirus (EVOB) which is similar to the
other EVOB strains earlier identified in Zaire in 1995. The data received form the genetic
characterization of the virus shows that the virus and the geographic location of the outbreak
is not dependent on each other (Gostin & Friedman, 2015).
The persons suffering from the outbreaks are mainly those who are exposed to animal
reservoirs. Transmission initially begins with the direct contact of an individual with the
carrier organism, and then it propagates through human-to-human transmission (Fowler et al.,
2014). EVOB have been isolated from the body fluids like saliva, faeces, semen, nasal blood
and skin, of these infected individuals.
Environmental factors play a major role in the epidemiological outbreak.
Environmental change caused due to the human involvement has contributed to the incidence
of Ebola virus. These environmental factors may lead to exposure to the infected wildlife
such as bats who act as carriers of EBOV. The suspected reasons for the outbreaks, majorly
are cultural practices such as the burial and funeral rites where bodily contact occurs with the
fluids from the dead persons. Other such cultural practices ay include the use of indigenous
medicines for the treatment which may increase the chances of infections as they might be
inadequate as disinfectants. The health care experts of those regions are lacking in the
concept of microbiological hygiene and have a resistance towards certain health measures
due to local cultures which pose a threat. Certain health stigmas also have an impact on the
behaviour of both the effected and the unaffected individual during the epidemic outbreak.
Healthcare professionals often have to face the stigmatizing effect from their family and
community (Buseh et al., 2015).

5EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
The role of the nurses in addressing the outbreak
Whenever there is an emergence of any outbreak, the nurses involved firstly should
follow certain procedures and protocols and go through the information available on the
situation and share it with the other staffs. They should be well equipped to provide all kinds
of amenities required by the patients suffering from Ebola. They should be well aware of the
differences in the symptoms between the early flu symptoms and the full-fledged onset of
Ebola Virus Disease. One of the major roles of the nurses involved in care giving to such
patients is reduce the fears of the patients by maintaining a therapeutic and professional
relationship with the patient and the patient’s family (Matlock et al., 2015).
According to Alexander et al. (2015), common masses who are unable to extract
information from the legit sources, try to extract information from the nurses as to the
ongoing research on possible vaccines and treatment procedures. Therefore it is needed that
the nurses should be well educated and knowledgeable regarding these things and try to calm
them. Along with all of these factors, high ethical standards should always be maintained by
the nurses so that they are able to display nursing preparedness, in order to deal with the
severe outbreaks. Apart from providing direct care, the nurses are also involved in
influencing the national health policies.
Health promoting interventions
Health care settings is the first and foremost method of infection control (Fowler et
al., 2014). The nurses should see that there are no cases of delayed detection and isolation of
the detected infection, which will increase the risk of the transmission all the more. The
symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease are not specific and quite common like fever, nausea and
diarrhoea which may be exposed to the family caregivers and professional care-givers, hence
proper precautionary measure should be taken by the nurses.

6EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
Reports by Maganga et al. (2014), discusses that educational awareness and support
from the nurses is also required to bring changes in the funeral practices in order to prevent
the contact with the body fluids of the dead bodies of the patients who dies suffering from the
Ebola virus disease. Preventing this could put an end to a common propagation method of the
virus thus inhibiting outbreaks. This practise is very culture sensitive hence should be dealt
with care by giving proper education to the population.
Lastly, in order to avoid bush meat handling, especially contact with bats should be
restricted by arranging awareness programs within the communites to bring about socio-
economic changes (Gostin & Friedman, 2015). On coming in contact with the wild animals,
the risk of catching the initial virus infection into the human body increases. Apart from the
above mentioned inventions, focus should be given to increase the development of Ebola
vaccines and antiviral drugs. The nurses should be able to address the media and make them
understand and educate them regarding the current status of these vaccines and treatment
methods.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be stated that the role of the nurses is a vital part of the care
giving procedure, offered to the victims of an outbreak like it is summarized in the article.
From the epidemiological triangle it is seen that the causative agents of the Ebola outbreak
are various strains of EBOV which is mostly prevalent in specific geographical areas which
has more animal reservoir exposure. Environmental and socio-economic factors add up more
to the incidence of the outbreaks. Direct care-giving is the most crucial agenda of the
involved nurses apart from which they should take part in spreading awareness through
several intervention and awareness programs.

7EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
References
Alexander, K. A., Sanderson, C. E., Marathe, M., Lewis, B. L., Rivers, C. M., Shaman, J., &
Eubank, S. (2015). What factors might have led to the emergence of Ebola in West
Africa?. PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 9(6), e0003652.
Buseh, A. G., Stevens, P. E., Bromberg, M., & Kelber, S. T. (2015). The Ebola epidemic in
West Africa: challenges, opportunities, and policy priority areas. Nursing
outlook, 63(1), 30-40.
Fowler, R. A., Fletcher, T., Fischer, W. A., Lamontagne, F., Jacob, S., Brett-Major, D., &
Ferri, M. (2014). Caring for critically ill patients with Ebola virus disease.
Perspectives from West Africa. American journal of respiratory and critical care
medicine, 190(7), 733-737.
Goeijenbier, M., Van Kampen, J. J., Reusken, C. B., Koopmans, M. P., & Van Gorp, E. C.
(2014). Ebola virus disease: a review on epidemiology, symptoms, treatment and
pathogenesis. Neth J Med, 72(9), 442-8.
Gostin, L. O., & Friedman, E. A. (2015). A retrospective and prospective analysis of the
West African Ebola virus disease epidemic: robust national health systems at the
foundation and an empowered WHO at the apex. The Lancet, 385(9980), 1902-1909.
Maganga, G. D., Kapetshi, J., Berthet, N., Kebela Ilunga, B., Kabange, F., Mbala Kingebeni,
P., & Cabore, J. (2014). Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of
Congo. New England Journal of Medicine, 371(22), 2083-2091.
Matlock, A. M., Gutierrez, D., Wallen, G., & Hastings, C. (2015). Providing nursing care to
Ebola patients on the national stage: the National Institutes of Health
experience. Nursing outlook, 63(1), 21-24.

8EBOLA OUTBREAK AND ROLE OF NURSES IN IT
Nurse becomes first to die in DR Congo from Ebola outbreak. (2018). Retrieved from
http://www.itv.com/news/2018-05-10/first-death-announced-in-dr-congo-after-ebola-
outbreak/