Ebola Syndrome

Ebola-syndrome-poster

Ebola Syndrome is a rare but severe and often fatal illness in humans caused by the Ebola virus. The disease is known for its high mortality rate and is one of the viral hemorrhagic fevers, characterized by fever, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, and at times, internal and external bleeding. First identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ebola Syndrome has since led to periodic outbreaks across sub-Saharan Africa.

Symptoms and Transmission

The initial symptoms of Ebola Syndrome can appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure to the virus, starting with fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headaches. As the disease progresses, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash may occur. In severe cases, there is decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys, and individuals may experience both internal and external bleeding (e.g., bleeding from the gums, blood in the stools).

Ebola is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The Ebola virus can spread through direct contact with blood or bodily fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola Syndrome, through objects contaminated with such fluids, and through contact with the semen from a man who has recovered from Ebola.

Prevention and Control

Preventing Ebola Syndrome involves avoiding contact with the virus. This includes wearing protective clothing, such as masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles, when taking care of ill patients or handling materials contaminated with the virus. Health-care workers are at the highest risk of contracting the disease and must follow strict infection control measures.

Outbreak control relies on a range of responses, including case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials, and social mobilization. Community engagement is crucial to successfully controlling outbreaks.

Treatment

There is no proven treatment for Ebola Syndrome, but a range of potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies, and drug therapies are being evaluated. Supportive care - rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids - and treatment of specific symptoms improve survival. A vaccine for Ebola, rVSV-ZEBOV, has shown to be effective in preventing infection if administered before exposure or shortly after.

Epidemiology

Since its discovery, Ebola has caused sporadic outbreaks in several African countries. The largest outbreak in history occurred in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, with more than 28,000 cases and 11,000 deaths. This outbreak led to significant international concern and prompted efforts to develop a vaccine.

See Also

• Viral hemorrhagic fever
• Infectious disease
• Outbreak