Ebola hemorrhagic fever facts* *Ebola hemorrhagic fever facts medical author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD • Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by four different strains of Ebola virus; these viruses infect humans and nonhuman primates. • Ebola viruses are mainly found in primates in Africa and possibly the Philippines; there are only occasional outbreaks of infection in humans. • Ebola hemorrhagic fever occurs mainly in Africa: Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Uganda. • Ebola virus can be spread by direct contact with blood and secretions, by contact with blood and secretions that remain on clothing, and by needles and/or syringes used to treat Ebola-infected patients. • The symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever include abrupt fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat and weakness after an incubation period of two to 21 days; progression of symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, hiccups, and rash with more devastating symptoms of internal and external bleeding in some patients. • Early clinical diagnosis is difficult as the symptoms are nonspecific; however, if the patient is suspected to have Ebola, the patient needs to be isolated and local and state health departments need to be contacted immediately. • Definitive diagnostic tests for Ebola hemorrhagic fever are ELISA and/or PCR tests; viral cultivation and biopsy samples may also be used. • Unfortunately, there is no standard treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever; only supportive therapy is available. • Prevention of Ebola hemorrhagic fever is difficult; early testing and isolation of the patient, plus barrier protection for caregivers (mask, gown, goggles, and gloves), is very important to prevent others from getting infected. • Researchers are trying to understand the Ebola virus and pinpoint its ecological reservoirs to better understand how outbreaks occur.
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 12:34:30 +0000
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