Understanding of Ebola: The killer virus

Health news has been dominated in recent days by the outbreak of the Ebola virus in west Africa, with more than 1,200 confirmed cases and 672 deaths. Cases have been confirmed in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea. The World Health Organization estimates the current outbreak has a mortality rate of 56%.

 What is Ebola? 

 Ebola is a virus that can be spread through blood and bodily fluids. The virus originated in the west African rainforest and is thought to have spread to humans by handling or butchering infected animals. Once the virus enters the body it can replicate very quickly, causing a range of increasingly harmful symptoms, including internal bleeding. Left untreated it can have a mortality rate as high as 90%.

 What are the symptoms of Ebola virus?

 An infected person will typically develop a fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, and intense muscle weakness. These symptoms start suddenly 2 to 21 days after becoming infected. Diarrhoea, vomiting, a rash, stomach pain and impaired kidney and liver function follow. The infected person may then bleed internally, as well as from the ears, eyes and mouth.

 How is the Ebola virus spread? 

 People can become infected with the Ebola virus if they come into contact with the blood, body secretions or organs of an infected person. Some traditional African burial rituals may have played a part in its spread. The Ebola virus can survive for several days outside the body, including on the skin of an infected person. In parts of Africa it is common for mourners to touch the skin of the deceased.
A person then only needs to touch their mouth to become infected. Other ways people can catch the virus include: touching the soiled clothing of an infected person and then touching their mouth having sex with an infected person without using a condom (the virus can be present in semen for several weeks, possibly as many as seven, after an infected person has recovered) handling unsterilised needles or medical equipment that have been used on the infected person handling infected animals or coming into contact with their body fluids
A person is infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus is generally not spread through routine social contact such as shaking hands with patients without symptoms. The virus is not airborne, so it's not as infectious as diseases such as the flu – you'd need to get close to it to catch it.

 Who's at risk from Ebola?

Anyone who has close contact with an infected person or handles samples from patients is at risk of becoming infected. Hospital workers, laboratory workers and family members are at greatest risk.

How is Ebola diagnosed? 

 It's difficult to know if a patient is infected with Ebola virus in the early stages. The early symptoms of Ebola, such as fever, headache and muscle pain, are similar to those of many other diseases.


What are the treatments for Ebola? 

 There's currently no specific treatment or cure for the Ebola virus, although potential new vaccines and drug therapies are being developed and tested. Patients need to be treated in isolation in intensive care. Dehydration is common, so fluids may be given intravenously (directly into a vein). Blood oxygen levels and blood pressure will be maintained at the correct level, and the body organs supported while the patient recovers.