Ebola. Fatal disease.

Source:  http://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Health-Readiness/Pandemic-Diseases/Ebola/Treatment.

Ebola

Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees).
Transmission. Because the natural reservoir host of Ebola has not yet been identified, the manner by which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak is unknown. However, researchers believe that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal.

When an infection does occur in humans, there are several ways the virus can be spread to others. These include: direct contact with the blood or body fluids (including but not limited to feces, saliva, urine, vomit and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola contact with objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the blood or body fluids of an infected person or with infected animals
The virus in the blood and body fluids can enter another person’s body through broken skin or unprotected mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth. The viruses that cause Ebola are often spread among families and friends, because they come in close contact with blood or body fluids when caring for ill persons.

During outbreaks of Ebola, the disease can spread quickly within healthcare settings, such as clinics or hospitals. Exposure to Ebola can occur in healthcare settings where hospital staff are not wearing appropriate protective clothing including masks, gowns, gloves, and eye protection.

Signs and Symptoms

A person infected with Ebola is not contagious until symptoms appear. Signs and Symptoms of Ebola typically include:Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
1. Severe headache
2. Muscle pain
3. Vomiting
4. Diarrhea
5. Stomach pain
6. Unexplained bleeding or bruising
Symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure to Ebola but the average is eight to 10 days.

Prevention

When cases of the disease do appear, there is increased risk of transmission within healthcare settings. Therefore, healthcare workers must be able to recognize a case of Ebola and be ready to use appropriate infection control measures. The aim of these techniques is to avoid contact with the blood or body fluids of an infected patient.

Appropriate procedures include:

isolation of patients with Ebola from contact with unprotected persons wearing of protective clothing (including masks, gloves, impermeable gowns, and goggles or face shields) by persons caring for Ebola patients the use of other infection-control measures (such as complete equipment sterilization and routine use of disinfectant) avoid touching the bodies of patients who have died from Ebola.
Healthcare workers should also have the capability to request diagnostic tests or prepare samples for shipping and testing elsewhere.

CDC, in conjunction with the World Health Organization, has developed a set of guidelines to help prevent and control the spread of Ebola. Entitled Infection Control for Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers In the African Health Care Setting, the manual describes how to: recognize cases of viral hemorrhagic fever
prevent further transmission in health care setting by using locally available materials and minimal financial resources.

Treatment

Currently there are no specific vaccines or medicines (such as antiviral drug) that have been proven to be effective against Ebola.

Symptoms of Ebola are treated as they appear.

 The following basic interventions, when used early, can significantly improve the chances of survival:
Providing intravenous(IV) fluids and balancing electrolytes (body salts)
Maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure
Treating other infections if they occur

Timely treatment of Ebola is important but challenging since the disease is difficult to diagnose clinically in the early stages of infection. Because early symptoms such as headache and fever are not specific to Ebolaviruses, cases of Ebola may be initially misdiagnosed.

However, if a person has symptoms of Ebola and had contact with blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola, contact with objects that have been contaminated with blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola, or contact with an infected animal, the patient should be isolated and public health professionals notified. Supportive therapy can continue with proper protective clothing until samples from the patient are tested to confirm infection. Experimental treatment has been tested and proven effective in some animals but has not yet been evaluated in humans.