What is Ebola. Discuss it’s risks, symptoms and prevention.
- Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola virus disease) is a disease caused by four different strains of Ebola virus; these viruses infect humans and nonhuman primates.
- Compared to most illnesses, Ebola hemorrhagic fever has a relatively short history. Health care professionals discovered Ebola in 1976. There have been several Ebola outbreaks, including the 2014-2016 "unprecedented epidemic" in Africa, which has abated.
- After an incubation period of 2 to 21 days, symptoms and signs of Ebola virus disease include, abrupt fever, headache, joint pain, muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness.
- Ebola viruses are mainly found in primates in Africa and the Philippines; there are only occasional Ebola 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 spreads by direct contact with blood and secretions, by contact with blood and secretions that remain on clothing, and by needles and/or syringes or other medical supplies 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 infected people.
- 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.
- There is no standard treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever; only supportive therapy and experimental treatment is available.