Alcohol sanitisers cannot control the spread of Ebola

The Head of the Public Health Unit of the Korle bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Philip Amoo, says sanitisers made of alcohol alone could not prevent the contraction of the Ebola viral disease.

He explained that the germs that caused the Ebola disease can be classified as “Enveloped Virus” which meant it had a protective cover that could not be destroyed mainly by alcohol sanitisers.

A powerful combination of chemicals is what can be used to control and prevent it, Dr Amoo told the Ghana News Agency after a sensitisation programme for Customs Officers in Takoradi in the Western Region.

He noted that, “Not all sanitisers can fight Ebola”.

He alleged that most of the sanitisers on the market were mainly alcohol based with glycerin and perfumes and urged the public to look out for sanitisers with chemical composition such as didecyldimethyl, ammonium and chloride.

Meanwhile, prices of hand sanitisers continued to soar on the market since information came out that sanitisers could fight Ebola.