All about Ebola – an insidious, deadly viral infectionE. bola is a relatively young infectious disease that first appeared in the mid-1970s. At the same time, it is also one of the most dangerous and deadly viral infections.So far, researchers have not found an antidote, so extreme caution is required when traveling to risk areas.
What is Ebola?
Ebola is an infectious disease that is transmitted through bodily fluids such as blood, saliva and semen. It is caused by a virus and can be life-threatening.
The disease first broke out in what was then Zaire in Central Africa in 1976. It spread quickly as an epidemic and became known and feared worldwide. Since then, there have been repeated outbreaks and widespread occurrences in African countries.
The biggest epidemic to date is not that long ago: Between 2014 and 2015, the virus spread from Guinea to neighboring countries and affected over 28,000 people. About 11,000 of them did not survive the infection.
Ebola risk areas in Africa
So far, the disease has mainly occurred in Central and West Africa. Risk countries include:
•Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire)
•Gabon
•Republic of the Congo
•South Sudan
•Uganda
•Guinea
•Sierra Leone
•Liberia
What are the causes of Ebola?
The cause of the disease is a virus from the class of filoviruses. These pathogens are also referred to as thread viruses because they look like elongated threads under the microscope.
Their genome consists of RNA (ribonucleic acid), which is why they are counted among the RNA viruses.
The virus is transmitted from person to person through bodily fluids:
•from saliva when kissing
•through semen during sexual contact
•through any contact with blood, urine, stool, vomit or sweat
What makes Ebola so incredibly dangerous is that contagion can happen even after the infected person has died. Great caution is therefore required when dealing with Ebola patients.
Even objects contaminated with infected bodily fluids transmit the pathogen, such as bedding, clothing, needles or surgical instruments.
Ebola is transmissible through animals
The disease can even be transmitted by monkeys and rodents. Both contact with an infected animal and eating the meat can trigger the disease.
Nevertheless, the virus originally came from fruit bats, which passed the pathogen on to monkeys. It has not been proven, however, that Ebola can be transmitted through the air. Ebola infection through mosquito bites is also unlikely.
So far, five different forms of the Ebola virus are known, but there is probably much more. Three of these are considered the main triggers.
Incidentally, the disease owes its name to the Ebola river in the former Zaire, where the first cases of the disease occurred.
What are the Ebola Symptoms?
On average, the first symptoms appear about eight to ten days after infection. However, the incubation period can be up to 21 days. Typical signs of an Ebola infection are:
•high fever
•fatigue
•body aches
•chills
The symptoms usually start very suddenly and get worse within a very short time. About three to ten days after the onset of the flu-like symptoms, more appear:
•Nausea
•Vomit
•diarrhea
•pain in the upper abdomen
Only as the Ebola disease progresses do the clear signs appear, such as
•external and internal bleeding
•chest pain
•red eyes
•joint pain
•muscle pain
•shortness of breath
•altered consciousness
The bleeding that is typical of Ebola is a result of coagulation disorders caused by the virus. The occurrence together with the high fever is called hemorrhagic fever.
Bleeding occurs particularly in the gastrointestinal tract and on the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth and genitals.
They are one of the main reasons why many of the diseases are fatal, as they can lead to organ failure.
Since the first symptoms appear between three and 21 days after infection, there is a long time that infected people carry the virus without even knowing about it. There is only a risk of infection when the first symptoms appear.
How does the doctor recognize Ebola?
The first signs are easily mistaken for the flu. Only the addition of other symptoms and the rapid deterioration of the state of health are clear indications of an infection.
If Ebola is suspected, the doctor treating you should protect yourself against possible infection with the virus before the examination. Since the disease is highly contagious, the examination alone can become a risk.
The pathogen can be clearly proven by a blood test in the laboratory. Antibodies against the virus can be detected in the blood that confirm an Ebola diagnosis.
Ebola is notifiable
In most western countries there is an obligation to report all forms of Ebola. Both the suspicion, the proof of the pathogen, deaths and an illness itself must be reported by name according to the Infection Protection Act.
How is Ebola treated?
If the disease was detected, then further therapy should be carried out by a specialist. In 2019, researchers succeeded in discovering a drug that drastically reduces the mortality rate and lessens the severity of the course of the disease.
Treatment also aims to relieve symptoms and strengthen the immune system. If it is started early, the patient’s chances of survival increase.
So far, Ebola therapy has mainly focused on the fluid and electrolyte balance of the sick. Since they lose a lot of fluid due to the gastrointestinal complaints, the body has to be supplied with sufficient fluids via infusions.
This usually happens in an isolation ward to shield the sick person from outsiders. In addition, the immune system is strengthened so that the body can fight the disease better.
How can I prevent Ebola?
In 2019, after a long period of intensive research, the vector vaccine Ervebo was approved in an urgent procedure. In addition to preventive vaccination, contagion will be prevented by people in risk areas avoiding contact with infected people.
What are the chances of a cure for Ebola?
The vaccine and antiviral drugs have greatly improved the chances of survival in recent years. Previously, more than half of all infections ended fatally.
The cure for Ebola depends not only on vaccination but also on the immune system of the patient. If it is strong enough, it can fight the pathogen. If it is too weak, the untreated disease ends in death.
The cause of death is then usually complete organ failure, one of the consequences of the bleeding that is typical of the disease. Another infection with bacteria can also aggravate the disease.
In all cases, however, it is due to a lack of medical care in the risk areas. The dangerous thing: Even the deceased can still transmit the virus. A safe burial must therefore take place as soon as possible after the death.
Contagious for a long time afterwards
Ebola patients who survive the virus infection are usually still contagious months after the symptoms have disappeared. Especially in men, the pathogen could still be detected in the sperm six months later.
Contraception with condoms is therefore a sensible protection for up to a year after the end of the illness in order to prevent further infections…🙏🏼💜