Globalization, Its Impact on Health: Ebola - Essay Example

Globalization, Its Impact on Health: Ebola Author’s Name Institutional Affiliation Globalization, Its Impact on Health: Ebola Introduction Ebola has emerged as a global treat for all sections of society and therefore, earnest efforts warranted in the context of mitigating its adverse manifestations for enhancing the wellness outcomes among the affected patients. No definitive cure of Ebola infestation configured until date, thereby warranting the utilization of healthcare approaches for preventively reducing the scope of Ebola progression across the community environment. This essay focuses on the mode of Ebola transmission, vaccination challenges, management approaches and the requirement of undertaking research interventions for reducing the burden of Ebola disease across the globe. Source of Ebola and Its Transmission Evidence-based research literature advocates the contention related to the attribution of fruit bats in transmitting Ebola virus to the healthy individuals (Ealy & Dehlinger, 2016, pp. 18-22). Bats while serving as the natural reservoir of Ebola virus release it through defecation and salivation on the surface of fruits that when consumed by primates (as the great apes) makes them prone toward developing Ebola infection. Literature review reveals the transmission of Ebola virus to human beings following the consumption of the flesh (of great apes and bats) infected by Ebola invasion. Furthermore, Ebola virus transmits between human beings through direct (i.e. face-to-face) communication between the individuals. The direct exposure of healthy humans to blood, infected secretions and body fluids results in the rapid transmission of the disease leading to the establishment of a massive outbreak. Other sources of Ebola transmission between individuals attribute to the unprotected intercourse and non-disposal of protective devices utilized for challenging the progression of the disease across the community environment. Ebola virus potentially affects the breast milk and therefore, the infected mothers remain predisposed to the transmission of infection to their infants during the onset and progression of Ebola outbreak (Skolnik, 2011). Burial traditions across the communities prove to be one of the preliminary factors attributing to the progression of Ebola infection between the individuals. The requirement of cleaning the body of the deceased person by close relatives places them at high risk of acquiring the viral infection. Clinical findings documented by (Atherstone, Roesel, & Grace, 2014, p. 28) reveal the transmission of Ebola virus through infected pigs to the healthy individuals. The breeding of the infected wild pigs with the domestic ones facilitates the transmission of Ebola infection to the domestic species and subsequent amplification of the virus among humans. Research literature presents various opinions regarding the mode of transmission of Ebola infection across the community environment. The transmission of Ebola virus through the air route is highly suspected by the researchers across the globe. Furthermore, the transmission of this infection through open cuts, wounds, abrasions and lacerations prevalently occurs, thereby leading to the onset of debilitating outbreak (Alton, 2014). Aerosols are considered as a potential means for transmitting Ebola infection to the healthy individuals. Disposable medical waste products prove to be another source of Ebola transmission across the human population. The transmission of this deadly virus through percutaneous mode and via infected skin across health care settings proves to be the preliminary cause of nosocomial infections (Gabrielli, Layon, & Yu, 2012, p. 609). A range of significant factors attributing to environmental alterations, climatic patterns, absence of effective healthcare systems, financial crisis and urbanization facilitate the rapid progression of Ebola infection across the community environment (Filho, Azeiteiro, & Alves, 2016, p. 152). Inefficient laboratory management system and unsafe lab handling practices elevate the predisposition of the healthcare workers toward acquiring Ebola infection across the medical facilities. Socioeconomic degradation of the vulnerable groups across the globe reciprocally affects the patterns of their health and hygiene and facilitates the progression of Ebola amplification across the community environment. Lack of Ebola Vaccine as Compared to other Diseases Researchers claim the configuration of an effective Ebola vaccine; however, the efficacy of this vaccine yet not proved in terms of challenging the progression of a debilitating Ebola outbreak and therefore, it’s not yet authenticated by FDA for preventing the onset of Ebola infection across the community environment (NHS, 2015). The lack of an effective vaccine against Ebola virus relates to the fact that the exact source of Ebola infection, etiology, pathophysiology and prognosis not yet explored and confirmed by the healthcare agencies. Furthermore, the type of immunity required in protecting the individuals from the threat of Ebola progression not authenticated by evidence-based research literature and resultantly, the development of a potential anti-Ebola vaccine not yet achieved by the research community (Hoenen, Groseth, & Feldmann, 2012). Evidence-based research literature reveals the lack of development of an Ebola vaccine in the context of socio-political, ethical and economic challenges that potentially hinder the research process (of vaccine development) across the healthcare facilities (Sykes & Reisman, 2015). The challenges that attribute to the deployment of research subjects (for vaccine trials) and their safety lead to the considerable reduction in the number of enrolled patients resulting in the cessation of clinical trials. Ethical concerns for undertaking Ebola vaccine development procedures relate to the administration of experimental and placebo treatment approaches to patients affected with the Ebola virus in the context of their high predisposition of developing life-threatening clinical complications during the research analysis. Evidence-based research literature documents the development of influenza vaccine in a cost effective manner (i.e. at reduced expenses) for preventively challenging the onset of seasonal influenza across the community environment (Osterhaus, Fouchier, & Rimmelzwaan, 2011). This vaccine is promoted by FDA and exhibits excellent safety and efficacy profile for reducing the load of influenza across the societies. However, no such attribute in terms of cost effectiveness and safety exhibited by Ebola vaccine and therefore, healthcare agencies fail to approve its utilization for preventing the progression of Ebola infection. Evidence-based clinical literature describes the worldwide utilization of hepatitis B vaccine in the context of its acceptance across the societies and proven clinical outcomes (Sridhar, 2015). Ebola vaccine lacks such acceptance across the globe and resultantly, the approval for the implementation of a valid vaccine product remains pending from the healthcare agencies. The existing licensing policies for vaccines facilitate the approval of traditional vaccine models that truly demonstrates efficacy in terms of clinical outcomes. Inconsistencies in the efficacy of proposed Ebola vaccine barred this prospective product from its worldwide utilization in the context of preventing the progression of Ebola infection across the communities. Worldwide existence of Varicella infection resulted in the development of an effective vaccine for challenging its transmission between the individuals. Ebola infection remains confined to certain geographical locations and epidemic outbreak is not so wide as compared to Varicella transmission that proves to be another cause of lack of an effective vaccine for preventively challenging the progression of Ebola. The provision of coverage policies for Varicella vaccination promotes its effective administration across the regions of Japan as evidenced by the clinical literature (Nagaoka & Fujiwara, 2016). However, absence of these privileges proves to be the biggest barrier in the prospective configuration and administration of Ebola vaccine on a global scale. Public Health Management and Prevention of Ebola The preliminary step in controlling the progression of Ebola infection attributes to the isolation of Ebola patients in accordance with standard (Clinical) conventions (Hwang, 2014). Diagnostic interventions for tracking the development of Ebola virus among the affected patients necessarily warranted (by health care professionals) with the effective utilization of personal protective instruments for safeguarding the healthcare teams from their predisposition to the development of Ebola infection. The configuration of emergency departments and respective healthcare teams equipped with undertaking treatment measures for controlling the acute manifestations of Ebola infection required across the health care facilities in the context of challenging the progression of a major outbreak (Vidal, 2015, p. 26). Regular follow-up sessions with the patients affected with Ebola infection warranted in the context of reducing the probability of viral transmission to the healthy individuals. The configuration of evidence-based strategies for handling and treating Ebola patients required by medical professionals and nursing teams to minimize the risk of nosocomial transmission during the course of clinical interventions. The organization of education sessions and healthcare campaigns for elevating the awareness of common masses regarding the progression of Ebola virus and management strategies required to implement preventive approaches in the context of safeguarding the healthy individuals from the epidemic (Ebola) outbreak. The individuals predisposed to Ebola infection as well as healthcare professionals require training sessions in the context of efficiently identifying the severe manifestations of Ebola infection attributing to the development of high-grade fever, infected rashes, coagulation defect and their mitigating strategies for developing the cure of this life threatening condition (Kapur & Smith, 2011, p. 317). The provision of subsidies for treating Ebola epidemic and investment by various state agencies in developing an effective vaccine for Ebola virus necessarily required for decreasing the burden of Ebola outbreak across the community environment. The configuration of healthcare policies and promotion of prophylactic and preventive measures for controlling the onset of Ebola infection is required for effectively reducing the scope of its transmission across the globe. The reduction in cost of Ebola treatment and prevention strategies and enhancement of accessibility of the vulnerable groups to the healthcare facilities required to reduce the risk of establishment of Ebola outbreak across the community environment. The provision of culturally competent nursing care interventions warranted in the context of rendering holistic and person-centered healthcare interventions for treating the patients affected with Ebola infection. Regular disinfection of objects suspected of contamination routinely required across the healthcare facilities for reducing the scope of infection transfer between patients and the members of healthcare teams. The environmental modification across the Ebola treatment units required, while effectively utilizing the disinfectants and implementing therapeutic communication with the affected or predisposed patients in the context of enhancing their compliance to the administered treatment regimen. Regular monitoring of patterns of diarrhea and epigastric discomfort among the suspected patients warranted for attaining diagnostic accuracy or ruling out the pattern of Ebola progression during the course of clinical interventions. The management of fetal demise or pregnancy complications among women affected with Ebola invasion required for enhancing their life expectancy and reducing the intensification of co-morbid states. The clinical investigation of Ebola epidemics while taking into account the age of predisposed or affected individuals, their gastrointestinal complications and viral burden across the affected communities warranted in the context of attaining insight regarding the practice of preventive measures for reducing the transmission of Ebola virus across the community environment. The implementation of infection control strategies, restricting the travel of Ebola infected patients, ceasing the direct contact of infants with the infected mothers and refraining from sexual intercourse during Ebola outbreak attribute to some of the significant evidence-based strategies for challenging the scope of Ebola transmission across the globe. Conclusion Integrative approaches for ceasing the transmission of Ebola infection warranted by the medical professionals in the context of reducing the threat of mortalities of the affected patients across the globe. Implementation of person-centered approaches and primary care interventions highly necessary to track the onset of this disease while identifying the initial symptoms for initiating the treatment interventions for the affected patients. Preventive and prophylactic approaches attributing to the isolation of the infected patients, sterilization of the healthcare equipments and utilization of personal protective equipments challenges the progression of Ebola infection and the subsequent occurrence of a major outbreak. Prospective clinical studies highly warranted in the context of exploring a definitive cure for Ebola infection for enhancing the life expectancy of the individuals experiencing Ebola manifestations. References Alton, J. (2014). The Ebola Survival Handbook: An MD Tells You What You Need to Know Now to Stay Safe. USA: Skyhorse. Atherstone, C., Roesel, K., & Grace, D. (2014). Ebola risk assessment in the pig value chain in Uganda. Kenya: ILRI. Ealy, G., & Dehlinger, C. A. 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How to Prevent the Spread of Ebola: Effective Strategies to Reduce Facility Acquired Infections and Reduce Super Bugs Outbreak. St. Louis: Lara. Read More