Ebola

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It is a rare and deadly viral haemorrhagic fever disease.

Causes

 It is caused by an infection with a group of viruses within the genus Ebolavirus:

• Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus)
• Sudan virus (species Sudan ebolavirus)
• Taï Forest virus (species Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus)
• Bundibugyo virus (species Bundibugyo ebolavirus)
• Reston virus (species Reston ebolavirus)
• Bombali virus (species Bombali ebolavirus)

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) include:

• Fever
• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal (stomach) pain
• Unexplained haemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)

Transmission

Ebola is mainly transmitted by the following means

The virus spreads through direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with:

• Blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, faeces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
• Objects (such as needles and syringes) contaminated with body fluids from a person sick with EVD or the body of a person who died from EVD
• Infected fruit bats or nonhuman primates (such as apes and monkeys)
• Semen from a man who recovered from EVD (through oral, vaginal, or anal sex). The virus can remain in certain bodily fluids (including semen) of a patient who has recovered from EVD, even if they no longer have symptoms of severe illness.

Diagnosis 

• To determine whether Ebola virus infection is a possible diagnosis, there must be a combination of symptoms suggestive of EVD AND a possible exposure to EVD within 21 days before the onset of symptoms. An exposure may include contact with:

• Blood or body fluids from a person sick with or who died from EVD
• Objects contaminated with blood or body fluids of a person sick with or who died from EVD
• Infected fruit eaten by bats and primates (apes or monkeys)
• Semen from a man who has recovered from EVD

• Send blood sample to National Public Health Referral laboratory

Non-pharmacological treatment

Supportive therapy

• Providing fluids and electrolytes (body salts) through infusion into the vein (intravenously).
• Offering oxygen therapy to maintain oxygen status.
• Using medication to support blood pressure, reduce vomiting and diarrhoea and to manage fever and pain.

Precautions

• Isolate patient
• Wash hands frequently
• Use gloves for patient examination and when touching blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact skin;
• Wear gowns to protect skin and prevent soiling of clothing during consultations and activities that are likely to generate splashes or sprays of blood, body fluids, secretions, or excretions;
• Wear surgical mask and goggles, or face shield, to protect mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth during activities that may generate splashes of blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions
• Frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces
• Use rubber gloves to handle soiled laundry
• Dispose waste safely
• Observe safe injection practices

With confirmed cases of Ebola or other highly infectious agents, use added precautions as follows:

• Personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Two pairs of gloves,
  • Double gown or coverall suit,
  • Surgical cap or hood, mask, protective glasses,
  • Impermeable apron,
  • Rubber boots.

• Wear PPE prior to entry into the isolation area and to be removed before leaving the isolation area.
• Disinfect surfaces, objects, clothing and bedding with chlorine solution
• In the event of a death, do not wash the body. Prompt and safe burial of the dead as quickly as possible, using a body bag.