Ebola Virus Disease Information

    Ebola Virus Disease Information

Symptoms of Ebola virus infection are similar to those produced by other hemorrhagic fever viruses and include 

       

Ebola virus disease (EVD; also Ebola hemorrhagic fever, or EHF), or simply Ebola, is a disease which affects humans, animals and other primates. It is caused by Ebola viruses. Signs and symptoms normally start between two days to three weeks after contracting the virus with a fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headaches. Then, vomiting, diarrhea and rash typically follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. At this time some people begin to bleed both internally and externally. The disease has a high possibility of death, killing between 25 and 90 percent of those infected with an average of about 50 percent. This is often due to low blood pressure from fluid loss, and typically follows six to sixteen days after symptoms appear.

The virus spreads through contact with body fluids, such as blood, of infected human or other animals. This may also occur during contact with an item recently contaminated with bodily fluids. Spread of the disease through the air between primates, including humans, has not been documented in either laboratory or natural conditions. Semen or breast milk of a person after recovery from EVD may still carry the virus for several weeks to months. Fruit bats are believed to be the normal carrier in nature, able to spread the virus without being affected by it. Other diseases such as malaria, cholera, typhoid fever, meningitis and other viral hemorrhagic fevers may resemble EVD. Blood samples are tested for viral RNA, viral antibodies or for the virus itself to confirm the diagnosis.

Additional Symptoms of Ebola may include:

Quick facts about Ebola:

• ·    Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease mainly caused by four different strains of Ebola virus; these viruses infect humans and nonhuman primates. It is also referred to as Ebola virus disease. 
• ·        Ebola hemorrhagic fever has a short history since it was discovered in 1976. There have been a few cases, including the current (April 2014) "unmatched epidemic" in Africa.
• ·      Ebola viruses are usually found in primates in Africa and possibly the Philippines; there are only rare outbreaks of infection in humans. Ebola hemorrhagic fever occurs mainly in Africa in the Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Uganda, but it may occur in other African countries.
• ·      Ebola virus can be spread by straight contact with blood and secretions, by contact with blood and secretions that remain on clothing, and by needles and/or syringes used to treat Ebola-infected patients.
• ·     Risk factors for Ebola hemorrhagic fever are travel to areas with endemic Ebola hemorrhagic fever and/or any close association with an infected person.
• ·      Early clinical diagnosis is difficult as the symptoms are nonspecific; however, if the patient is suspected to have Ebola, the patient needs to be isolated and local and state health departments need to be immediately contacted.
• ·     Definitive diagnostic tests for Ebola hemorrhagic fever are ELISA and/or PCR tests; viral cultivation and biopsy samples may also be used.
• ·         There is no regular treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever; only supportive therapy is available.
• ·       There are many complications from Ebola hemorrhagic fever; the projection for patients ranges from fair to poor since many patients died from the disease (death rate equals about 25%-100%).
• ·      Prevention of Ebola hemorrhagic fever is complicated; early testing and isolation of the patient, plus barrier protection for caregivers (mask, gown, goggles, and gloves), is very important to prevent others from getting infected.
• ·      Researchers are trying to understand the Ebola virus and identify its ecological reservoirs to better understand how outbreaks occur. Researchers are actively trying to create an successful vaccine against Ebola viruses by using several experimental methods, but there is no vaccine available currently.