Friday October 10, 2014
EBOLA(This information was obtained from the CDC website:
www.cdc.gov)
Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare
and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus
strains. Ebola can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates
(monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees).
Ebola is caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae,
genus Ebolavirus.
A severe, often fatal disease, Ebola can be spread in several
ways to others: through direct contact (through broken skin or
mucous membranes) with a sick person's blood or body fluids or
objects that have been contaminated with infected body fluids.
Ebola symptoms usually begin after an incubation period ranging
from 2 days to 21 days.
Symptoms of Ebola include:
- Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal (stomach) pain
- Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)
Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to
Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days.
Recovery from Ebola depends on good supportive clinical care and
the patient's immune response. People who recover from Ebola
infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.
Transmission
When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be spread
in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact
(through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes,
nose, or mouth) with
- blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine,
saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person
who is sick with Ebola
- objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated
with the virus
- infected animals
- Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general,
by food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of
handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with
infected bats. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects
can transmit Ebola virus. Only mammals (for example, humans, bats,
monkeys, and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with
and spread Ebola virus.
Healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and the family
and friends in close contact with Ebola patients are at the highest
risk of getting sick because they may come in contact with infected
blood or body fluids of sick patients.
During outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within
healthcare settings (such as a clinic or hospital). Exposure to
Ebola can occur in healthcare settings where hospital staff are not
wearing appropriate protective equipment, including masks, gowns,
and gloves and eye protection.
Once someone recovers from Ebola, they can no longer spread the
virus. However, Ebola virus has been found in semen for up to 3
months. People who recover from Ebola are advised to abstain from
sex or use condoms for 3 months.
Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for
Hospitalized Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease
in U.S. Hospital
Standard, contact, and droplet precautions are recommended for
management of hospitalized patients with known or suspected Ebola
virus disease.
How do I protect myself against Ebola?
If you must travel to an area affected by the 2014 Ebola
outbreak, protect yourself by doing the following:
- Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand
sanitizer.
- Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of any person,
particularly someone who is sick.
- Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an
infected person's blood or body fluids.
- Do not touch the body of someone who has died from Ebola.
- Do not touch bats and nonhuman primates or their blood and
fluids and do not touch or eat raw meat prepared from these
animals.
- Avoid hospitals in West Africa where Ebola patients are being
treated. The U.S. Embassy or consulate is often able to provide
advice on medical facilities.
- Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever (temperature
of 101.5°F/ 38.6°C) and any of the other following symptoms:
headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or
unexplained bruising or bleeding.
- Limit your contact with other people until and when you go to
the doctor. Do not travel anywhere else besides a healthcare
facility.
For general information about Ebola, please use the
links below:
This information was obtained from the CDC website.