Alcohol sanitizers cannot control the spread of Ebola

Dr. Philip Amoo, Head of the Public Health Unit of the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital says sanitizers 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 that it had a protective cover that could not be destroyed mainly by alcohol sanitizers.

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

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

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

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