EBOLA VIRUS

Ebola virus disease (EVD; also Ebola hemorrhagic fever, or EHF), or simply Ebola, is a disease of humans and other primates caused by Ebola viruses.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by one of five different Ebola viruses. Four of the strains can cause severe illness in humans and animals. The fifth, Reston virus, has caused illness in some animals, but not in humans.

Signs and symptoms typically start between 2 days and 3 weeks after contracting the virus as a fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headaches. The disease has a high risk of death, killing between 25 percent and 90 percent of those infected with the virus, averaging out at 50 percent. This is often due to low blood pressure from fluid loss, and typically follows 6 to 16 after symptoms appear.

The virus spreads by direct contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected human or other animal. Infection with the virus may also occur by direct contact with a recently contaminated item or surface. Spread of the disease through the air between primates, including humans, has not been documented in either laboratory or natural conditions. The virus may be spread by semen or breast milk for several weeks to months after recovery. Fruit bats are believed to be the normal carrier in nature, able to spread the virus without being affected by it. Humans become infected by contact with the bats or with a living or dead animal that has been infected by bats. After human infection occurs, the disease may also spread between people.

Deadly human Ebola outbreaks have been confirmed in the following countries: Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Republic of the Congo (ROC), Guinea and Liberia.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF INFECTION:

• Fever
• Intense weakness
• Severe Headache
• Sore Throat
• Joint and Muscle Pain
• Weakness
• Fatigue

FOLLOWED BY:

• Vomiting
• Stomach Pain
• Diarrhea
• Rash
• Impaired Kidney and Liver Function

IN SOME CASES:

• Both Internal and External Bleeding
• Sometimes Rash, Red Eyes and Hiccups

Ebola virus disease symptoms and signs may appear from about two to 21 days after exposure (average is eight to 10 days). It is unclear why some patients can survive and others die from this disease, but patients who die usually have a poor immune response to the virus.

PREVENTION TIPS:

• Avoid close contact with infected patients
• Avoid Consumption of the raw meat of possible infected animals like fruit bats, monkeys or apes
• Wear gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment when taking care of ill patients at home
• Wash hands after visiting sick relatives in the hospital and after care of ill patients at home
• Dispose of waste safely
• Dispose of needles and syringes safely
• Isolate the patient