Ebola

The Ebola virus is a serious and deadly disease
transmitted by animals and humans. Scientists
initially detected the Ebola virus disease (EVD) in
1976 in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of
Congo

. Researchers named the disease after the
Ebola River that flows in the Congo.
Although the Ebola virus has been present for
more than 35 years, an outbreak occurred in
March 2014 that began in West Africa. This
outbreak has proven more deadly, severe, and
widespread than previous outbreaks.
The Ebola virus likely originated in African fruit
bats. The virus is known as a “zoonotic” virus
because it’s transmitted to humans from
animals. Humans can also transfer the virus to
each other. Other animals known to transmit the
virus include:
chimpanzees
forest antelopes
gorillas
monkeys
porcupines
Since people may handle these infected animals,
the virus can be transmitted via the animal’s
blood and body fluids. Once people become
infected with Ebola, they can transmit it to others
if people come in contact with their:
breast milk
feces
saliva
semen ( According to the CDC , Ebola
can live in the semen for as long as
three months.)
sweat
urine
vomit
These bodily fluids can all carry Ebola virus.
People can get Ebola when they come in contact
with these fluids via the eyes, nose, mouth, or
broken skin.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), Ebola symptoms can take as
long as three weeks to appear. Disease
symptoms include:
diarrhea
fever
headache
muscle pain
stomach pain
unexplained bleeding or bruising
vomiting
People should seek immediate medical care if
they have a fever greater than 101.5 F or any
other symptoms associated with the Ebola virus.
The Ebola virus does not have a cure or vaccine
at this time. Instead, measures are taken to keep
the person as comfortable as possible.
Supportive care measures include:
giving medications to maintain blood
pressure
managing electrolyte balances
providing extra oxygen, if needed
providing intravenous fluids to prevent
dehydration
treating co-existing infections and
preventing other infections from
occurring
People’s immune systems can respond differently
to Ebola. While some may recover from the virus
without complication, others can have residual
effects like joint problems.
Individuals can take several precautions to
protect against Ebola. These steps include:
avoiding contact with blood and body
fluids
educating themselves on recognizing
the disease and preventing it
practicing careful hand hygiene,
including washing hands with soap and
water or an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer
refraining from engaging in burial rituals
that involve handling the body of a
person who died from Ebola
refraining from handling items a person
with Ebola has handled, including
clothing, bedding, needles, or medical
equipment
Healthcare workers and lab technicians also
must practice very careful precautions. This
includes isolating people with Ebola and wearing
protective gowns, gloves, masks, and eye shields
when coming in contact with the infected person
or their belongings. Careful protocol and disposal
of these protective materials is also vital for
infection prevention.
Cleaning crews should use a bleach solution to
clean floors and surfaces that may have come in
contact with the Ebola virus.