IATE Term(s) of the Week: Ebola & Quarantine

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ebola-quarantineWith the West African outbreak of Ebola, worries are that the virus might spread to other continents, which has prompted extraordinary precautions among the nations of the developed world. Doctors and medical staff who have travelled to West Africa to treat infected people have been urged to be sealed off from the public once they return to their home country. On this occasion, we decided to elaborate on two terms from IATE: Ebola and ‘Quarantine

The Oxford Dictionary defines quarantine as “a state, or place of isolation in which people or animals that have arrived from elsewhere or have been exposed to infectious or contagious disease are placed.” Ebola is characterised as “an infectious and generally fatal disease marked by fever and severe internal bleeding, spread through contact with infected body fluids by a filovirus (Ebola virus), whose normal host species is unknown.

While the outbreak of this virus is particularly devastating in Africa, officials have said that it has little risk of spreading on such a severe level to the developed world. Ebola has, however, killed hundreds of people since this outbreak was first identified. Moreover, figures estimate that the virus has killed 54% of those infected in the most recent outbreak, making it a very deadly disease. Health authorities and doctors maintain that this is the largest outbreak of Ebola, and are very determined to prevent an outbreak on a larger scale.

Due to the nature of Ebola, with an incubation of 21 days, it is sometimes very difficult to spot an infected individual. This has caused worry among many that someone infected with the virus might board an aircraft without knowing he/she has contracted the disease.

Quarantine measures have as a result been issued to individuals who might be infected. In particular, the US state has announced the quarantine of missionaries who travelled to West Africa to aid the treatment of ill individuals last month. The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued several guidelines for aircraft personnel to follow in the event of an infected passenger.

 

Ebola IATE

Quarantine Ebola IATE

We invite you to suggest the equivalent terms in the missing EU languages, or alternatives to the existing term in your language if you consider the proposed term inaccurate. Provide your answer with a reliable reference and an accurate definition and/or context if possible.

Click here to contribute to IATE! (Ebola)
Click here to contribute to IATE! (Quarantine)

A terminologist for the language in question will revise your answer and decide whether to validate them. Given the implications of the process, a delay is to be expected.

 

 

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By Oscar Larsson
Student at University of Glasgow, School of Social & Political Sciences
Communication Trainee at TermCoord