Ebola virus disease (
EVD) or
Ebola hemorrhagic fever (
EHF) is a disease that affects humans and primates
caused by the
Ebola virus and three other closely related viruses in the
genus (group of related viruses)
ebolavirus. It is a
hemorrhagic fever, meaning that victims may
bleed inside the body or externally,
and it has
one of the highest case fatality rates (death rates) of any disease, killing between 50% and 90% of victims. Symptoms typically start eight to 10 days after contracting the virus, with a
fever, sore throat,
muscle pain, and
headaches Typically
nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea follow, along with decreased functioning of the
liver and
kidneys. Hemorrhaging (bleeding) may also begin around this time. There is
no specific treatment for the disease; efforts to help persons who are infected include giving either
oral rehydration (slightly sweet and salty water to drink) or
intravenous fluids to replace lost fluids
oxygen if required,
pain control, preventing other
infections, and managing
blood thickness and clotting (
anticoagulants in the early stages and
procoagulants later on).
The virus may be acquired upon contact with
blood or
bodily fluids of an infected animal (commonly monkeys or
fruit bats).
Spread through the air has not been documented in the natural environment.
Fruit bats are believed to carry and spread the virus without being
affected. Once human infection occurs, the disease may spread between
people as well. Male survivors may be able to transmit the disease via
semen for nearly two months. In order to make the diagnosis, typically other diseases with similar symptoms such as
malaria,
cholera, and other
viral hemorrhagic fevers are first excluded. To confirm the diagnosis, blood samples are tested for viral
antibodies, viral
RNA, or the virus itself
Prevention includes decreasing the spread of disease from infected
monkeys and pigs to humans. This may be done by checking such animals
for infection and killing and properly disposing of the bodies if the
disease is discovered. Properly cooking meat and wearing protective
clothing when handling meat may also be helpful, as are wearing
protective clothing and
washing hands
when around a person with the disease. Samples of bodily fluids and
tissues from people with the disease should be handled with special
caution.
EVD was first identified in
Sudan and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. The disease typically occurs in outbreaks in tropical regions of
Sub-Saharan Africa.
From 1976 (when it was first identified) through 2013, fewer than 1,000 people per year have been infected.
The largest outbreak to date is the ongoing
2014 West Africa Ebola outbreak, which is affecting
Guinea,
Sierra Leone,
Liberia, and
Nigeria.
As of August 2014, more than 1750 suspected cases have been reported.
Efforts are ongoing to develop a
vaccine; however, none yet exist
from a female LIB reader
