The mode of human to human transmission of Ebola Virus Disease is?

Appeared in: KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Direct contact.
Human-to-human transmission of Ebola virus occurs through direct contact with the blood, secretions, or other body fluids of infected individuals.
The virus enters a new host through broken skin or mucous membranes.
Contact with objects and surfaces contaminated with these fluids, such as needles and bedding, can also lead to infection.
Individuals are infectious as long as their blood and body fluids contain the virus, which includes the post-mortem period, making safe burial practices critical.

Option A: Ebola virus is not transmitted through the air in natural community settings. This mode of transmission is characteristic of diseases like tuberculosis or measles.
Option B: Ebola is not a waterborne disease. It does not spread through contaminated drinking water.
Option C: Human-to-human transmission of Ebola is not vector-borne. It is not spread by insects like mosquitoes or ticks.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Mode of transmission of Ebola Virus Disease helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the transmission route of Ebola is critical for nurses to implement appropriate and strict infection control measures, protecting themselves, other patients, and the community.
Immediate implementation of Standard, Contact, and Droplet precautions is a cornerstone of preventing nosocomial (hospital-acquired) spread of EVD.
Patient and family education on transmission routes, especially regarding safe sex practices after recovery and safe burial practices, is a key nursing role in outbreak control.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the core of the question: The question asks for the specific mode of human-to-human transmission for Ebola Virus Disease.
Analyze the options provided, which represent the main categories of infectious disease transmission: Airborne, Waterborne, Vectorborne, and Direct contact.
Recall the key characteristics of Ebola. It is a viral hemorrhagic fever known for being highly contagious through bodily fluids.
Evaluate each option against this knowledge. 'Airborne' (like measles), 'Waterborne' (like cholera), and 'Vectorborne' (like malaria) do not fit the known epidemiology of Ebola's spread between people.
Conclude that 'Direct contact' with infectious body fluids is the correct and primary mode of transmission for Ebola.
This is a factual recall question. A strong knowledge base of the transmission routes for major communicable diseases is essential.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QKCtLDvj4etEqtjcujFZGo

E6 Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics(2024) — Volume 1 p. 2080-2082

E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 266-268

Practise the full KPSC Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.