Mass vaccination can't stop Ebola outbreak: Five ways to prevent yourself

New Delhi : Even mass vaccination drives will not be enough to prevent Ebola outbreak, announced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

One dead in Congo

Congo’s minister of health on Thursday announced the first death since a new Ebola outbreak was declared in the country. Nine other cases of Ebola sick people have also been registered.

Five ways to prevent yourself from Ebola virus

• Wash your hands frequently using soap and water – use alcohol hand rubs when soap isn't available

• Make sure fruit and vegetables are properly washed and peeled before you eat them

• Avoid physical contact with anyone who has possible symptoms of an infection

• Don't handle dead animals or their raw meat

• Don't eat "bushmeat"

Study on Ebola outbreak

According to a study, Ebola outbreak can be controlled only through isolation of patients and surveillance on the disease.

It has been revealed that over 80 per cent of the population will be needed to get immunised to prevent outbreak of the disease.

Such high figures look unachievable as of current situation. In a vaccination trial during the West African Ebola virus epidemic, only 49 percent of individuals who had been in contact with Ebola virus patients could be vaccinated. 34 percent of contacts refused vaccination although they had been exposed to the disease.

Also, a mass vaccination drive will entice high cost within a complete impractical situation. More than 450 million people are residing in areas affected from Ebola viruses and most of them come under rural section.

The study pointed out that the clinical vaccine candidates will need to be focused on health care workers who are often involved in disease transmission, potentially in combination with the vaccination of patient contacts.

The study has been published in the journal Frontiers in Immunology.