The Ebola virus is extremely serious.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is the common name for the Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) or the Ebola virus disease (EVD). The initial symptoms of the virus include sore throat, fever, headaches, and muscle pains. Later, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting occur. The liver and kidneys then begin to lose functioning. Finally, bleeding problems are part of the later symptoms. The way Ebola is transmitted is via an infected animal. Carriers of Ebola are typically fruit bats or monkeys. Once the animal transmits the disease to a human, the disease can travel to other humans through bodily fluids or blood. Ebola’s symptoms are similar to other diseases, such as cholera and malaria, so other infections are ruled out in order to diagnose the virus. There are ways to prevent the spread of Ebola from pigs or monkeys to humans. If these animals are infected, it is important that they are killed and properly disposed of. Additionally, “wearing protective clothing and washing hands” as well as “properly cooking meat” can prevent additional spread of the disease.1
Unfortunately, there is no approved treatment for Ebola other than symptom management and relief, such as “oral rehydration therapy…or intravenous fluids”. Ebola kills “between 50% and 90% of those infected”. Some patients may benefit from anticoagulants, early in the course of infection, and procoagulants in the later stages in order to control the bleeding. Oxygen and pain levels also need to be managed, and some medications can “treat bacterial or fungal secondary infections”. There is no vaccine. Historically, Ebola was found in Africa, but it has spread.2
Ebola in the US and Europe
In Liberia, a Spanish priest contracted Ebola, making him the first European Ebola patient. In addition, two patients had been treated in the US after contracting Ebola in Liberia as well. A Liberian American, Patrick Sawyer, passed away from the Ebola virus. The other US patients, Dr. Kent Brantly and aid worker Nancy Writebol, had been receiving an experimental drug treatment: ZMapp. ZMapp had not undergone human testing at the time it was used on Brantly and Writebol, but both patients had shown improvement after taking the medication (as of August 2014). Standard treatment includes “supporting organ functions and maintaining bodily fluids” so that the body can fight off the infection.3 Aside from the general population avoiding Ebola transmitted through bodily fluids, healthcare workers need to take special care not to contract or spread the disease. People involved in burial ceremonies, who have contact with the deceased’s body, also need to be careful about transmitting Ebola.4
Learn more about vector-borne and zoonotic illnesses.