Ebola Virus Disease

Due to the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus, we thought it necessary to post some pertinent information regarding the disease.

What is Ebola?

Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%. It is one of the world’s most virulent diseases.The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of infected animals or people. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients.

How is it transmitted?

Ebola is transmitted via direct contact with any bodily fluid and tissue of an infected person. Infection could be through direct or indirect contact with blood, saliva, corpses of persons infected with the disease to mention a few. There are also some animal reservoirs of the virus. Examples include gorillas, chimpanzees, rodents, fruit bats.

Symptoms

During the incubation period, which can last about 1 week (rarely up to 2 weeks) after infection, symptoms include: 

• Arthritis 
• Backache (low-back pain) 
• Chills 
• Diarrhea 
• Fatigue 
• Fever 
• Headache 
• Malaise 
• Nausea 
• Sore throat 
• Vomiting 

Late symptoms include: 

• Bleeding from eyes, ears, and nose 
• Bleeding from the mouth and rectum (gastrointestinal bleeding) 
• Eye swelling (conjunctivitis) 
• Genital swelling (labia and scrotum) 
• Increased feeling of pain in the skin 
• Rash over the entire body that often contains blood (hemorrhagic) 
• Roof of mouth looks red 

Treatment
Treatment is largely supportive since there is no actual drug therapy for the disease. Fluid and electrolyte management are the mainstay. Antibiotics are not effective against the disease because it is not a bacterial infection. However, antibiotics may be used to prevent bacterial superimposition on the disease.

Prevention

Prevention is very crucial to breaking the disease transmission and overcoming the epidemic. Avoiding direct and indirect contact with bodily fluids and tissue of infected persons is the way to go. The practice of barrier nursing for patients in hospitals is effective, so also is frequent hand washing. The use of gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment must be used in taking care of ill patients.There are currently no vaccines for the prevention of Ebola fever though research is ongoing

Further Information

For more information on the Ebola virus, please visit the links below.

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html

http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2014/chapter-3-infectious-diseases-related-to-travel/viral-hemorrhagic-fevers

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_08_04_ebola/en/

http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/faq-ebola/en/