First we need to understand what ebola is.
Ebola is a viral infectious disease that is generally rare and effects humans and other primates. It is severe and often fatal, with case fatality rates up to 90% for some outbreaks. There are five different strains in total, with only four that affect humans. The strain causing the current outbreak in western Africa is Zaire ebolavirus. Rural villages in central Africa and more specifically the Democratic Republic of the Congo are believed to be the genesis of the virus. The very first cases and outbreaks occurred along the Ebola River there, from which the name is derived. (CDC)
Signs and symptoms
The symptoms of ebola may not become prevalent for 2-21 days after exposure, but are often present within 8-10 days:
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Unexplained hemorrhage
Transmission
Ebola is spread via direct contact with mucous membranes (nose, mouth, eyes) often via:
- Blood or bodily fluids (saliva, urine, sweat, vomit, etc.
- Objects that have been contaminated (syringes, bandages, etc)
- Bites from other infected primates such as bats
Family members and healthcare workers are the most susceptible to the virus due to the amount of contact they have with the infected. This is especially true in areas like Sierra Leone where the healthcare professionals have not been provided with the proper equipment to protect themselves and where the family members are not educated on the pathways of transmission of the virus (CDC).
Diagnosing ebola
Diagnosis is often a difficult exercise in the early stages, as the first symptoms such as fever and headache are also indicative of much more common diseases such as malaria and typhoid fever. To have any chance at differentiating from other diseases early on, the patient must know that they had contact with someone who has been infected.
The virus can be detected by taking a blood sample, but it only reaches detectable levels up to three days after the onset of symptoms (CDC).
The virus can be detected by taking a blood sample, but it only reaches detectable levels up to three days after the onset of symptoms (CDC).
Prevention and treatment
There is currently no FDA approved vaccine or antiviral for Ebola.
If in an area is affected by an outbreak, the most effective prevention strategies are to:
If in an area is affected by an outbreak, the most effective prevention strategies are to:
- Practice careful hygiene and frequently wash hands with disinfectant
- Avoid contact with bodily fluids
- Do not handle medical equipment, clothes, or needles of anyone infected
- Avoid burial or funeral rituals that involve physical handling of someone who was infected
- Avoid non-human primates and meat that comes from them
- Avoid medical facilities in which infected patients are being treated (CDC, 2014)