EBOLA DISEASE

Transmission of Ebola disease:

·         The virus is initially transmitted to people from wild animals and then spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

·         Signs and symptoms  

·         Initial symptoms are

·          sudden onset of fever

·         fatigue,

·          muscle pain,

·         headache

·         sore throat. – Can look like other febrile illnesses, e.g. malaria.

·         Usually followed by: vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, spontaneous bleeding internally and externally (in some cases).

How is EBOD Transmitted:

The virus spreads from person to person through: – Direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people. Among infected bodily fluids, the most infectious are blood, faeces and vomit. – Contact with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids. • Transmission can occur through needlestick injuries when managing a sick patient or a clinical specimen. • The virus may be carried in the breast milk of the infected mother, which poses a risk of transmission to the baby (see WHO guidelines).

·         EBOD is not spread through casual contact . The risk of infection with Ebola virus is minimal if you have not been in close contact with the bodily fluids of someone sick with or deceased from EBOD.

·         People are not infectious until they develop symptoms.

·          The virus multiplies within the body before symptoms develop.

·          Individuals become contagious when symptoms appear.