ebola

we have to do something this is what Ebola is [ee-BO-luh] hemorrhagic fever is a deadly disease that has occurred in outbreaks in Central Africa.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is caused by several Ebola viruses. The source of these viruses in nature is not known.
People can get Ebola hemorrhagic fever by direct contact with virus-infected blood, body fluids, organs, or semen.
There is no known cure or treatment.
Recent outbreaks in humans have occurred in areas where medical supplies and care were inadequate. The outbreaks were controlled by using barrier nursing techniques.
Under normal circumstances, travelers are at low risk of getting the disease. To eliminate the risk, travelers should avoid areas where Ebola outbreaks are occurring.


What is Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is one of the deadliest of a group of diseases called viral hemorrhagic fevers. They range in seriousness from relatively mild illnesses to severe and potentially fatal diseases. All forms of viral hemorrhagic fever begin with fever and muscle aches. Depending on the virus, the disease can get worse until the patient becomes very ill with breathing problems, severe bleeding (hemorrhage), kidney problems, and shock.

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses from four families: filoviruses, arenaviruses, flaviviruses, and bunyaviruses. The usual hosts for most of these viruses are rodents or arthropods (such as ticks and mosquitoes). In some cases, the natural host for the virus is not known.



What is the infectious agent that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is caused by several Ebola viruses. Ebola viruses are members of the filovirus family; when magnified several thousand times by an electron microscope, these viruses look like threads (filaments). Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 and named for a river in Zaire, Africa, where it was first detected.



Where is Ebola hemorrhagic fever found?

Ebola viruses are found in Central Africa. The source of the viruses in nature remains unknown. Monkeys, like humans, appear to be susceptible to infection and might serve as a source of virus if infected.



How do people get Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

People get the disease by direct contact with virus-infected blood, body fluids, organs, or semen.

The disease is spread mainly by close person-to-person contact with severely ill patients. This happens most often to hospital-care workers and family members who care for an ill person infected with Ebola virus. Close personal contact with persons who are infected but show no signs of active disease is very unlikely to result in infection.

Transmission of the virus has also been linked to the re-use of hypodermic needles in the treatment of patients. Re-using needles is a common practice in developing countries, such as Zaire and Sudan, where the health-care system is underfinanced. Medical facilities in the United States do not re-use needles.

Ebola virus can be spread from person to person through sexual contact. Persons who have recuperated from an illness caused by Ebola virus can still have the virus in their genital secretions for a short time after recovery and can spread the virus through sexual activity.



What are the signs and symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

People infected with Ebola virus have sudden fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, limited kidney and liver functions, and both internal and external bleeding. Death rates range from 50% to 90%.



How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?

Symptoms begin 2 to 21 days after infection.



How is Ebola hemorrhagic fever diagnosed?

Diagnosis requires specialized laboratory tests on blood specimens. Handling blood from a persons infected with Ebola virus is an extreme biohazard and can be done only in specially equipped laboratories. Diagnosis in patients who have died can be made by testing tissue samples.



Who is at risk for Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

Persons traveling to areas where Ebola hemorrhagic fever is occurring
Hospital staff and family members who care for patients with Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Central African residents of rural areas and small towns


What is the treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

There is no known cure or treatment. Severe cases need intensive supportive care.



How common is Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

Until recently, only three outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in humans had been reported. The first two, in 1976 in Zaire and in western Sudan, were large outbreaks that resulted in more than 550 cases and 340 deaths. The third outbreak, in 1979 in Sudan, was smaller, with 34 cases and 22 deaths. In each of these outbreaks, most cases occurred in hospitals where medical supplies were inadequate and where needles and syringes were re-used. The outbreaks were quickly controlled by isolating sick patients in a place requiring the wearing of mask, gown, and gloves; sterilizing needles and syringes; and disposing of wastes and corpses in a sanitary way.

In 1995, an outbreak in Kikwit and surrounding areas in Bandundu Province, Zaire, caused 316 deaths. The outbreak was amplified in a hospital by staff who became infected through poor nursing techniques. At the request of health officials in Zaire, medical teams from CDC and the World Health Organization, and from Belgium, France, and South Africa, collaborated to investigate and control the outbreak.

Two isolated cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever were identified in Cote d'Ivoire in 1994-1995. The most recent outbreaks were in rural Gabon in 1994 and in 1996. A patient from the 1996 Gabon outbreak traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa, and fatally infected a health-worker there as well.



How can Ebola hemorrhagic fever be prevented?

Under normal circumstances, travelers are at low risk of getting the disease. To eliminate the risk, travelers should avoid areas where Ebola outbreaks are occurring.



This fact sheet is for information only and is not meant to be used for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for consultation with a health-care provider. If you have any questions about the disease described above, consult a health-care provider.

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Our teacher showed us a film about ebola it is sick what it does u bleed everywhere

i know i was there

I actually find it to be a fascinating disease from a clinical perspective. They don't really know where it comes from, what the natural carrier is (animal, insect, etc.), or what causes it to burn through a village and then recede as quickly as it starts.

If you haven't already, I recommend reading The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. It's about an Ebola outbreak in a monkey house in Reston, VA. It's based on a true story, and absolutely fascinating. He discusses a lot of the clinical aspects and how quickly it kills, and how easily the disease mutates.

Another book you might be interested in is one called Ebola Through the Eyes of the People by William T. Close. It's about the 1976 outbreak in either Zaire or Sudan. It's been a while since I read it, so I can't remember exactly which one.

i was amazed to hear that gorillas can die from ebola the same as humans. whuch i shouldnt really be that amazed at considering the closeness of humans and gorillas