Monday 4 August 2014

KEY FACTS ABOUT EBOLA

Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) is the human disease caused by the Ebola virus. Symptoms typically start two days to three weeks after contracting the virus, with a fever, sore throat, muscle pains, and headaches. Typically nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea follow, along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys. At this point, some people begin to have bleeding problems.

Key facts

  • Ebola is transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals and humans.
  • Outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%.
  • Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus
  • Severe acute viral illness often characterized by the sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding
  • No licensed vaccine for Ebola is available. Several vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use
  • Pig farms can play a role in the amplification of infection because of the presence of fruit bats on these farms.

Source: WTO http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/  


1 comment:

  1. What are the key symptoms of Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), and when do they typically appear after contracting the virus?
    Greting Telkom University

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