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

Appeared in: ISRO- 2016

Explanation

Ebola virus is transmitted from person to person through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected individuals.
The virus enters the body through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth.
Transmission can also occur through indirect contact with surfaces and materials (like bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.

Option A: Ebola is not an airborne disease; it does not spread through tiny particles suspended in the air over long distances.
Option B: The Ebola virus is not transmitted through contaminated water sources.
Option C: Ebola is not spread by insects like mosquitoes or ticks.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Mode of transmission for Ebola Virus Disease helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Understanding the transmission mode is critical for nurses to implement correct infection control precautions (Standard, Contact, and Droplet) and prevent nosocomial spread.
Strict adherence to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) protocols is non-negotiable when caring for a patient with suspected or confirmed Ebola to protect both healthcare workers and other patients.
What if? If a patient with similar symptoms (fever, hemorrhage) had recently traveled to an area endemic for Dengue fever, the primary suspicion would shift to a vector-borne illness, changing the initial public health and environmental control measures.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core question: it asks for the specific mode of human-to-human transmission for Ebola Virus Disease.
Recall or deduce the classification of common infectious diseases and their primary transmission routes.
Analyze the options provided: Airborne, Waterborne, Vectorborne, and Direct contact represent the major categories of disease transmission.
Associate Ebola with its known high-risk factors, which famously involve exposure to the body fluids of an infected person.
Systematically eliminate the incorrect options. Ebola is not known to be spread through the air, contaminated water, or insects, making 'Direct contact' the only plausible answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 2 p. 219-221

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart A (pp 26-201 of 604) p. 90-92

Practise the full ISRO- 2016

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