When you hear the word Ebola, you probably feel a little scared, right? It is a serious, life-threatening viral disease. To be precise, it is a viral infection that attacks our blood vessels. The symptoms of Ebola start out as flu-like symptoms. But after a few days, the condition can become severe and can lead to conditions such as severe bleeding (hemorrhage), neurological disorders, and severe vomiting. However, it is important to be aware of this.
Ebola is not a very common disease. However, experts first identified the virus that causes Ebola, a member of the orthoebolavirus family, in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (then known as Zaire), Africa. Since then, the disease has spread sporadically. The largest Ebola outbreak occurred between 2013 and 2016. It infected 28,652 people in about 10 countries around the world, killing 11,325.
If you think you may have been exposed to the Ebola virus and are experiencing symptoms, it is very important to go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately or seek medical advice as soon as possible.
What are the main types of Ebola?
There are four types of Ebola virus that affect humans. These viruses are named after the regions where they were first identified, but have since spread to other regions. Each type differs in the severity of symptoms and the severity of the disease.
- Bundibugyo ebolavirus / Bundibugyo virus: This causes Bundibugyo virus disease (BDBV). It is less likely to be fatal than other types.
- Sudan ebolavirus / Sudan virus: This causes Sudan virus disease (SVD). This is a highly fatal disease.
- Taï Forest ebolavirus / Taï Forest virus: This causes Taï Forest virus disease (TAFV). This is the rarest cause of Ebola.
- Zaire ebolavirus / Ebola virus: This is the strain that causes Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). It is the most common cause of Ebola epidemics and deaths.
What happens if you get Ebola? What are the symptoms?
All types of Ebola cause similar symptoms. These symptoms can come in several stages. The first symptoms are flu-like:
- Feeling cold (Chills)
- Feeling very tired and weak (fatigue)
- Fever
- Appetite
- Muscle pain
- Severe headache
- Sore throat
After a few days, severe Ebola symptoms may appear. These include:
- Black, tarry stools (melena)
- Bleeding or bruising
- Confusion
- Diarrhea, sometimes with blood
- Red spots or blood spots on the skin (petechiae or purpura)
- Red or bloodshot eyes
- Vomiting, sometimes with blood or coffee ground emesis
The later stages of Ebola can be very severe . They include:
- Brain infection/inflammation (encephalitis)
- Organ failure
- Seizures (sometimes resembling epileptic seizures)
- Lack of adequate blood flow to the body (shock)
How long does it take for Ebola symptoms to appear?
Symptoms can appear as early as two days after exposure to the Ebola virus, or as late as three weeks. This means that the incubation period (the time it takes for the virus to enter the body and start showing symptoms) can vary.
What causes Ebola outbreaks? How does it spread?
Ebola outbreaks usually occur in countries in West, Central, and East Africa. The Ebola virus first starts in animals like these:
- Antelopes
- Fruit bats
- Nonhuman primates - apes and monkeys
All types of Ebola are spread in the same way. Orthoebolaviruses are spread through contact with bodily fluids from infected animals (this is called a spillover event , meaning the disease can spread from animals to humans) or humans. These bodily fluids are:
- Amniotic fluid (the fluid surrounding the baby in the womb)
- Breast milk
- Pee/urine
- Poop/stool
- Semen
- Spit/saliva
- Sweat
You can also catch Ebola from surfaces, objects, or medical equipment that have been contaminated with the virus. It can also be spread by eating meat from infected animals.
Can Ebola be transmitted through sex?
Yes, Ebola can be transmitted through sexual contact through the semen of an infected person. That means:
- Anal sexual intercourse
- Oral sexual intercourse
- Vaginal sexual intercourse
In ways like.
However, there is still no evidence that Ebola can be transmitted through the vaginal fluids of an infected woman.
Is Ebola airborne?
Ebola is very unlikely to be transmitted through the air. Airborne infections are spread by tiny respiratory droplets released when someone coughs, exhales, laughs, or sneezes. It's hard to imagine Ebola spreading that way.
Who is most at risk of contracting Ebola?
You are most at risk of contracting Ebola if you are in close contact with someone who is infected. This especially includes healthcare workers and family members .
If you are in close contact with someone who has Ebola, it is absolutely important to use proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as goggles, face shields, and masks.
What are the possible complications of Ebola?
Even after you recover from Ebola, some long-term (chronic) complications can occur. These include:
- Abdominal pain
- Eye pain or redness
- Frequent fatigue
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Numbness and tingling in the limbs (peripheral neuropathy)
- Skin peeling
- Vision problems, including blindness, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light (photophobia).
How do doctors diagnose Ebola?
Ebola can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those of other diseases, such as yellow fever, malaria, and typhoid fever. Therefore, doctors first:
- Looking at your health history.
- Asking about your symptoms.
- They will ask you about where you have recently traveled, or if you have been in contact with people or animals who you think may have Ebola.
If they suspect you have Ebola, they will recommend a PCR test to detect Ebola. PCR tests are a type of blood test.
Can Ebola be cured? What are the treatments?
Yes, there are treatments for Ebola. Doctors use two monoclonal antibody treatments for Ebola virus disease. These monoclonal antibodies work just like the antibodies your body naturally makes. They help fight the infection until your body can build up its own defenses.
Those monoclonal antibody treatments are:
- Ebanga®: This is a single monoclonal antibody.
- Inmazeb®: This is a combination of three monoclonal antibodies.
Experts have only tested this treatment for Zaire ebolavirus infections.
Doctors will also work to manage your symptoms and treat any complications that may arise. They may give you:
- IV fluids to prevent dehydration
- Oxygen therapy
- Pain relievers
- Vasopressors to increase low blood pressure
When should I see a doctor?
If you are at risk of exposure to Ebola and develop symptoms, see a doctor immediately . You may be at risk if you live in an area where animals that carry the Ebola virus are present, or if you have traveled to an area with an Ebola outbreak.
You can ask these questions during your doctor's appointment:
- What symptoms should I look out for?
- What can I do to prevent spreading Ebola to others?
- What treatment do you recommend?
- How long am I contagious?
Can Ebola be prevented?
Yes, there is a vaccine called Ervebo® that protects people at high risk of contracting Ebola. This includes people working in laboratories with Ebola viruses (orthoebolaviruses) and healthcare workers treating Ebola patients. It also works as pre-exposure prophylaxis for people traveling to areas with Ebola outbreaks. It is also effective during outbreaks.
The Zabdeno®/Mvabea® vaccine also protects adults and children 1 year of age and older against Ebola virus disease. Zabdeno is the first dose of the vaccine, and Mvabea is the booster dose given about two months later.
Public health organizations work to control Ebola outbreaks by monitoring new cases and keeping health workers who treat Ebola patients safe. You can also do these things to protect yourself from getting Ebola:
- Avoid contact with body fluids and tissues of people and animals (living or dead) who may have Ebola.
- Stop having sex completely, or use condoms, until tests confirm that your semen is no longer infected with Ebola.
- If you have Ebola, isolate yourself from others.
- Avoid eating wild animal meat.
- Do not touch the body fluids of someone with Ebola. Even if you wear gloves, wash your hands thoroughly after touching them.
- Do not travel to areas where there is an Ebola outbreak.
- Use proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for someone with Ebola.
What can I expect if I get Ebola?
To increase your chances of a full recovery, it is very important to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
If you are sick with Ebola, it is best to isolate yourself from others until you are no longer contagious. Doctors and others caring for you should use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) to protect themselves and others.
After you fully recover, your immune system produces antibodies that protect you from Ebola for about 10 years.
How long does the Ebola virus stay in my body? How long does it stay in semen?
Even after your symptoms disappear, the Ebola virus can remain in some places on your body for weeks or even months. These places include:
- Central nervous system (including the cerebrospinal fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord)
- Eyes
- Semen
The Ebola virus can live in semen for a long time – about two to three months after you recover. Doctors will test you to make sure you are no longer contagious. But until then, use condoms during sex to protect your partners from infection, or stop having sex altogether.
Can Ebola be cured? (Survival rates)
Yes, Ebola can be cured. However, survival rates vary depending on the type:
- Without treatment, 9 out of 10 people who contract the Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus) can die.
- If Sudan virus develops, about one in every two patients will die.
- If Bundibugyo virus develops, about 3 out of 10 patients will die.
- Only one person has ever contracted Ebola from the Taï Forest virus, and it was not fatal.
The survival rate from all Ebola outbreaks is generally over 50%.
If you have Ebola, the most important thing is to get treatment as soon as possible.
Is Ebola still around?
Yes, Ebola has been around during epidemics. It lives in infected animals. But it can also sometimes spread to people. Ebola cases have also been reported in the United States. That was during the 2013-2016 outbreak in Guinea. The majority of cases were in medical aid workers who showed symptoms after returning to the United States from West Africa. Or in people who were brought to the United States for medical treatment after Ebola broke out. No Ebola virus strain that affects humans has originated in the United States.
Final Take-Home Message
When you hear about Ebola outbreaks, the headlines in the newspapers and on the news are really scary. It's true. This is a life-threatening virus that can have long-term health effects.
However, with the development of vaccines and better treatments to prevent the spread of Ebola, more people are surviving Ebola than ever before. If you are at risk of exposure to Ebola, there are things you can do to protect yourself and prevent the spread of the disease.
If you think you may have been exposed, pay close attention to your health. If you develop symptoms , seek medical advice immediately. Remember, awareness is the best defense!
` Ebola, EVD, Viral Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola Symptoms, Ebola Transmission, Ebola Treatment, Ebola Prevention
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න