Ebola - Something to worry about, or not?

Ebola. Something to worry about, or not? Here are a few facts.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal disease.
In the recent outbreak of EVD in West Africa, as of 27 August 2014, more than 1 in 2 people who contract the disease has died [1]. Fatality can be up to 90%.

EVD is contracted by direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.
In general, the risk of infection is very low unless there has been direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. In the current outbreak in West Africa, caring for ill relatives is a known risk factor for infection, and healthcare workers, particularly those in resource poor settings with inadequate infection control are also at risk.Healthcare workers must apply infection control precautions – standard and transmission based, to minimise their risk of infection [2]. 

EVD can also be passed through unprotected sex. After recovery from EVD, men can still spread the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks [3]. 

EVD can spread even from the body of a person who had EVD and has died. This also has been a problem in the current outbreak in West Africa as in local burial tradition, family of the deceased have to wash the body of the dead [3].

There is no cure for EVD and no vaccines to prevent EVD.
People who have contracted EVD would require supportive care [1]. Example of supportive care include, a drip (Intravenous fluids) to maintain bodily fluids and salts, oxygen and devices that help with breathing, medications to control fever, help blood clot and maintain blood pressure and antibiotics to prevent any other infections [4].

What are the symptoms of EVD? [1]
In the initial stage symptoms are mainly flu-like with:
Fever, muscle aches and pains, fatigue, headache and sore throat .

The next stage symptoms can include:
  • Diarrhoea, vomiting
  • Severe headaches, confusion
  • Rash that look like a flat, red area on the skin that is covered with small confluent bumps
  • Vascular
  • Respiratory
  • Prostration
After a week, some cases would develop profuse internal and external bleeding and then to multi-organ failure. 50-90% of the people who have the Zaire strain of EVD die.

The risk of Ebola in Australia is low. (accurate as of 11 Aug 2014) [3]
There are no recorded cases of Ebola in Australia. In NSW, all cases of Ebola have to be reported to Public Health Units and is anyone with the disease will be quarantined.

When travelling to the West African countries affected, seek advice.
Before travelling to West Africa, check up the SmartTraveller website to check out the situation when planning your trip and before you leave.

References
[1] NSW Ministry of Health, Ebolavirus Disease 
[3] World Health Organisation, Ebola virus disease
[4] MEDTV, Ebola
[5] Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Smart Traveller



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