Facts File on EBOLA-2014

Facts File on EBOLA-2014

Typically, Ebola symptoms appear 8-10 days after exposure to the virus, but the incubation period can span from two to 21 days.

It can be difficult to determine if a patient is infected with the Ebola virus disease in the early stages.

This is because the Ebola symptoms such as fever, headache and muscle pain are quite common symptoms to other diseases.

It is no different from dengue

The diagnosis is based on the patient’s history.

If any person is presented with Ebola symptoms, then he/she will be tested for the Ebola disease. Samples of blood or body fluid can be sent to a laboratory to be tested for the presence of Ebola virus.

Then a diagnosis can be made rapidly.

This is how Sri-Lankan Attitude and no preparation at all.

“When issuing visas to persons from countries where the Ebola virus is prevalent, we have made medical certificates a prerequisite. A lot of countries have on arrival visa privileges at the airport. But in these cases we will be requiring medical certificates. Before arriving in our country they must secure a medical certificate proving that they are not carriers. Measures have been taken to examine persons arriving at the Bandaranaike International Airport.”

Health staff are inspecting passengers as they disembark.

This measure is in place especially for visitors from West African nations and Congo.

The data is referred to the Divisional Medical Officers of Health who then carry out follow up inspections.

Also in the event that any person displays symptoms of the disease within 21 days of arriving in the country then steps have been taken to have them immediately taken to the IDH hospital.

Ambulance services have been provided at the airport and doctors too have been assigned for this purpose.

Risk factors

From Mayo Clinic

For most people, the risk of getting Ebola or Marburg viruses (hemorrhagic fevers) is low.

The risk increases if you:

1.Travel to Africa.
You're at increased risk if you visit or work in areas where Ebola virus or Marburg virus outbreaks have occurred.
2. Conduct animal research.
People are more likely to contract the Ebola or Marburg virus if they conduct animal research with monkeys imported from Africa or the Philippines.
Provide medical or personal care.
Family members are often infected as they care for sick relatives.
Medical personnel also can be infected if they don't use protective gear, such as surgical masks and gloves.
Prepare people for burial.
• The bodies of people who have died of Ebola or Marburg hemorrhagic fever are still contagious. Helping prepare these bodies for burial can increase your risk of developing the disease.

Ecology

Ebola virus is a zoonotic pathogen.

Intermediary hosts have been reported to be "various species of fruit bats throughout central and sub-Saharan Africa".

Evidence of infection in bats has been detected through molecular and serological means.

However, ebolaviruses have not been isolated in bats.

Secondary hosts are humans and great apes, infected through bat contact or through other end hosts.

Pigs on the Philippine islands have been reported to be infected with Reston virus, so other interim or amplifying hosts may exist.

Ebola virus disease

Ebola virus is one of the four ebolaviruses known to cause disease in humans. It has the highest case-fatality rate of these ebolaviruses, averaging 83 percent since the first outbreaks in 1976, although fatality rates up to 90 percent have been recorded in one epidemic (2002–03). There have also been more outbreaks of Ebola virus than of any other ebolavirus. The first outbreak occurred on 26 August 1976 in Yambuku.

The first recorded case was Mabalo Lokela, a 44 year-old schoolteacher. The symptoms resembled malaria, and subsequent patients received quinine. Transmission has been attributed to reuse of unsterilized needles and close personal contact, body fluids and places where the person has touched.

During the 1976 Ebola outbreak in Zaire, Ngoy Mushola traveled from Bumba to Yambuku, where he recorded the first clinical description of the disease in his daily notes.

"The illness is characterized with a high temperature of about 39°C, haematemesis, diarrhea with blood, retrosternal abdominal pain, prostration with "heavy" articulations, and rapid evolution death after a mean of three days."

The prototype Ebola virus, variant Mayinga (EBOV/May), was named for Mayinga N'Seka, a nurse who died during the 1976 Zaire outbreak.

Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body. As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs.

Ultimately, it causes reduction in clotting factors leading to severe, uncontrollable bleeding. The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus, kills up to 90% of people who are infected.

Ebola virus disease is a serious, usually fatal, disease for which there are no licensed treatments or vaccines.

It is endemic in Africa.

Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. It is thought the Ebola virus has been living harmlessly in fruit bats for many years, building up in this population and spreading to other forest animals including chimpanzees and gorillas.

Ebola is extremely infectious but not extremely contagious.

It is infectious, because an infinitesimally small amount can cause illness.

Humans can be infected by other humans if they come in contact with body fluids from an infected person or contaminated objects from infected persons.

While the exact reservoir of Ebola viruses is still unknown, researchers believe the most likely natural hosts are fruit bats.

Ebola Symptoms are the following:

1. Fever
2. Bad headaches
3. Muscular Pain
4. Increased Weakness
5. Fatigue
6. Diarrhea
7. Vomiting
8. Stomach pains

9. Unexplained bleeding and breathing difficulty

Over time, symptoms become increasingly severe and may include:

Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea (may be bloody)
Red eyes
Raised rash
Chest pain and cough
Stomach pain
Severe weight loss
Bleeding, usually from the eyes, and bruising (people near death may bleed from other orifices, such as ears, nose and rectum)
Internal bleeding
It is almost like Dengue Fever

Severe headache
Joint and muscle aches
Chills
Weakness
But, only mode of transmission is different.
Complications
Both Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers lead to death for a high percentage of people who are affected.
As the illness progresses, it can cause:
Multiple organ failure
Severe bleeding
Jaundice
Delirium
Seizures
Coma
Shock
One reason the viruses are so deadly is that they interfere with the immune system's ability to mount a defense.
But scientists don't understand why some people recover from Ebola and Marburg and others don't.
For people who survive, recovery is slow. It may take months to regain weight and strength, and the viruses remain in the body for weeks. People may experience:
Hair loss
Sensory changes
Liver inflammation (hepatitis)
Weakness
Fatigue
Headaches
Eye inflammation
Testicular inflammation