What is Ebola Virus Disease?

Introduction:

The Ebola virus disease, often known as EVD, is a rare but fatal illness. It passes from one to person another through bodily fluids that are contaminated. Bleeding, discomfort and fever are all Ebola symptoms. Treatment raises the likelihood of survival.

What is Ebola Virus Disease?

OVERVIEW

What is Ebola?

Ebola is caused by a virus. It is an uncommon, highly contagious, fatal sickness that is transferred through contact with infected body fluids (from a sick person or from objects contaminated with body fluids, even door knobs).

Fever, discomfort, diarrhea, and bleeding are symptoms of Ebola.

It has been reported in Central and West Africa, but visitors from this area can carry and spread it. Most of the greatest outbreaks took place in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone between 2014 and 2016.

50% of those who contract the Ebola virus die, on average.

Treatment of symptoms and use of medication raise survival rates. Managing outbreaks aids in preventing the spread of the Ebola virus.

What happened to the Ebola Virus after all these years? Why is there an outbreak now?

The Ebola virus is still present in certain regions of Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and surrounding countries. Since its discovery in 1976, there have been several outbreaks of Ebola virus disease (EVD), with the most recent being the 2021 outbreak in Guinea, which has since been declared over.

The reasons for the outbreaks of the Ebola virus can vary, but they often involve contact with infected animals, such as fruit bats or nonhuman primates, and the transmission of the virus to humans through close contact with bodily fluids. Once the virus is introduced into human populations, it can spread rapidly through contact with infected individuals and their bodily fluids.

In the case of the 2021 outbreak in Guinea, the exact origin of the virus is not known, but it is believed to have been transmitted to humans from infected animals, possibly bats. Once the virus was introduced into human populations, it quickly spread through close contact with infected individuals and their bodily fluids.

There are ongoing efforts to prevent and control Ebola virus outbreaks, including vaccination campaigns, improved infection control measures, and rapid response teams to contain outbreaks when they occur. However, given the complex nature of the disease and its transmission, it is likely that the Ebola virus will continue to pose a threat in certain regions of Africa for the foreseeable future.

CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

How is Ebola transmitted?

A virus from the family of viruses that causes viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) is what causes Ebola (Marburg virus is another).

Direct contact with bodily fluids from an infected human or animal, such as blood, diarrhea, spit, mucus, pee, puke, breast milk, or semen, results in infection (bat, monkey, or ape).

 After making direct contact, you touch your lips, nose, eyes, or a skin-torn region.

A person or an object may have contaminated bodily fluids on them. A bat, monkey, or ape that has the Ebola virus can also infect you. It doesn't disseminate through the air.

Can a person get the Ebola disease without having direct contact with an infected person?

Ebola is primarily spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids (such as blood, saliva, urine, feces, vomit, and semen) of a person who is infected with the virus. So, if a person does not come into direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person, their risk of getting Ebola is very low.

However, there have been some rare cases of Ebola transmission through indirect contact with contaminated objects, such as needles or medical equipment, or by exposure to the bodily fluids of infected animals, such as monkeys or bats.

In addition, it is possible for a person to contract Ebola from a person who has recovered from the disease, as the virus can persist in certain bodily fluids, such as semen, for several months after recovery.

While it is theoretically possible for a person to contract Ebola without direct contact with an infected person, the risk is very low, and transmission usually requires close and direct contact with an infected person or their bodily fluids.

What Ebola symptoms are present?

Typically, symptoms appear two to six days after exposure, but they might take up to 21 days to manifest.

The development of symptoms is rapid and swift. They consist of:

• Fever and chills.
• Poor appetite.
• Achiness of muscle and bones.
• Headache.
• Diarrhea.
• Abdominal pain.
• Vomiting.
• Rash.
• Bleeding (in diarrhea, from nose or mouth, or even areas of minor injury).

TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS

How is Ebola diagnosed?

Lab tests are used by healthcare professionals to diagnose Ebola. The Ebola virus may not become detectable by lab tests for up to three days. As a result, the patient's symptoms and other findings are used to make the first diagnosis.

MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT

How is Ebola treated?

The FDA granted approval for the first Ebola therapy in October 2020. Three antibodies are combined in the novel drug, InmazebTM (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn). Inmazeb users have a better probability of living longer.

The symptoms of the Ebola virus are treated by healthcare professionals to increase survival rates.

Treatments include giving:

• IV or fluids and electrolytes (body salts).
• Medicine to control fever, diarrhea, and vomiting.
• Oxygen.

PREVENTION

If there is a current outbreak of Ebola where you are, your chance of contracting it is increased. Most Ebola outbreaks take place in nations in Africa.

For people who are most at risk of contracting the disease, vaccination has also been created.

Avoid the following to help prevent contracting Ebola:

• Direct contact with infected body fluids.
• Items that may contain infected body fluids.
• Visiting Ebola treatment clinics or hospitals.
• Touching the body of someone who has died from an Ebola virus infection.
• Contact with certain animals such as bats, monkeys, and chimps.
• Eating bushmeat (the meat of wild animals such as bats, antelope, and monkeys).

Caretakers must use particular caution to prevent contracting or transmitting Ebola. Care providers can take the following precautions to prevent catching Ebola:

• Sterilizing the tools.
• Using supplies and equipment that are disposable.
• Hand washing.
• Wearing protective clothing such as gloves, masks, glasses, and other items.

In order to stop the spread of the Ebola virus, healthcare providers can:

• Sanitizing the residences of Ebola patients. Bleach and hospital-Grade disinfectants can destroy and sterilize it.
• Putting Ebola patients in isolation.
• Testing and observation of those who have come into touch with an Ebola patient.
• keeping an eye out for new Ebola cases.

PROGNOSIS

Can you get over Ebola?

Ebola patients die in around half of the cases. Since Ebola was first discovered by scientists in the 1970s, the survival rate has increased. Up to 90% of sick patients used to die. There is hope that survival rates will keep rising thanks to new antibody therapies.

Has Ebola had any long-term effects?

Ebola survivors may continue to experience physical and mental issues.

Physical issues consist of:

• Abdominal (stomach) pain.
• Arthritis.
• Erectile dysfunction.
• Eye problems, like blurred vision, dry eyes or eye pain.
• Headache.
• Hearing loss.
• Muscle or bone pain.
• Painful periods (dysmenorrhea).

Effects on the mind include:

• Anxiety.
• Depression.
• PTSD 
• Memory loss.

What time should I go see a doctor?

If you develop Ebola symptoms and are in a location where there is an active outbreak, get medical attention very once. Your chances of survival can increase and symptoms can be improved with care. Additionally, it can halt the transmission of Ebola.

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