Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II- Governance; Health; GS III – Disaster Management; Science and Technology
In News:
Indian Prime Minister recently announced 21-day lockdown period in the entire country to contain the COVID- 19 pandemic.
Key Takeaways:
21day quarantine was encouraged extensively during Ebola crisis as well.
The calculations are based on the estimated incubation period of the virus in the human host.
Usually, incubation period for any infection is 14 days epidemiologically.
Another week is added to ensure that the infection dies out and the host is entirely safe.
Since, this is a novel corona virus, the scientists have estimated the time between entry of virus to the onset of infection, falls within this period, known as median incubation period.
It was also recently reported that the median incubation period for COVID19 is just over five days.
97.5% of people who develop symptoms do so within 11.5 days of infection.
This is the most effective way of preventing the spread of infection.
Maintaining personal hygiene and practising personal distancing are other ways of prevention.
Important value additions:
Ebola
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is also known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever.
It is viral haemorrhagic fever of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses.
The virus causes severe bleeding, organ failure and can lead to death.
Humans may spread the virus to other humans through contact with bodily fluids such as blood.
Quarantine
Quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests.
