10 Ebola Symptoms
Ebola is a condition that causes viral hemorrhagic fever in humans and other primates. It has a high risk of fatality. Death usually occurs in six to fourteen days after the symptoms begin. The virus is transmitted via contact with bodily fluids such as blood from infected individuals or other animals. Spread can also occur when there is contact with items that are contaminated with bodily fluids. The spread of the disease through the air has not been documented in either laboratory or natural conditions. For those who have recovered from Ebola virus disease, the semen or breast milk can still carry the virus from several weeks to months. Fruit bats are potentially normal carriers and can spread the virus without being affected.
Outbreaks can be controlled through coordinated community help and medical services. Contact tracing, rapid detection, access to laboratory services, care for the infected, and proper handling of those who have died through cremation or burial are all necessary. Samples of bodily fluids must be handled carefully. Prevention includes limiting the spread of Ebola virus disease from animals to humans and vice versa, cooking thoroughly before eating, wearing protective clothing, and hand washing. A vaccine has been approved in the US and Europe for certain strains of the Ebola virus but no specific treatment for the disease is available at the moment. Supportive management such as oral rehydration fluids, intravenous fluids, and treating symptoms can improve the outcome for the affected patients. Ebola virus disease outbreaks can occur occasionally in the tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa. From 1976 to 2013, the World Health Organization has reported a total of 24 outbreaks with 1,716 cases. The largest outbreak occurred in West Africa between December 2013 to January 2016 where there were 28,616 cases with 11,310 deaths.
