Ebola hemorrhagic fever – symptoms, treatment, prevention

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Bad news is coming from Africa. While the whole world is battling the COVID-19 pandemic, several cases of Ebola have been confirmed in Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Does the epidemic recover in Africa and strike at the most unexpected moment?

1. To date, eight cases of Ebola have been confirmed in West Africa
2. The Ebola virus is one of the most dangerous in the world. The mortality rate of the disease caused by this pathogen reaches 90%.
3. Most often, infection with the virus occurs through droplets
4. You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page

Return of Ebola?

Ebola infection has so far been confirmed in seven patients in Guinea – three have died, and the government has decided to declare an epidemic. One case was also found in Congo. Experts fear the dangerous virus has made a comeback only five years after the end of the previous Ebola outbreak in Guinea and one year after the last cases of the disease found in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

WHO has already dispatched envoys to investigate the situation on the ground. Recall that in 2013-2016, more than 11 died due to Ebola. people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It was the largest epidemic of this virus recorded in West Africa.

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Ebola hemorrhagic fever – what is it?

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a dangerous infectious disease that is caused by the Ebola virus. Its reservoirs are probably Saba monkeys and rodents, pigs, and fruit bats. Ebola virus belongs to the family Filoviridae and was first recognized in 1976, during the first epidemic of the disease (In Zaire, 318 of 280 patients died during this epidemic).

The name of the Ebola virus comes from the name of the Ebola River in the northern Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are four subtypes of the virus:

1. Ebola-Zair,
2. Ebola-Sudan,
3. Ebola-Ivory Coast,
4. Ebola-Reston.

Ebola fever is the most common condition in tropical countries, although cases have also been reported in North America, Europe and Asia. Infection with this disease occurs through droplets as a result of direct contact with the patient. It can also spread as a result of contact with blood and excretions of the patient as well as with objects contaminated with the virus, e.g. reusable medical equipment.

The disease most often ends in death as a result of bleeding, and the mortality rate is estimated from 60 to 90%. Symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever may appear up to 21 days after contact with the virus. The disease itself lasts about two weeks.

The gateways of infection are the Ebola virus: skin, mucous membranes, conjunctiva, respiratory tract.

See also: Infectious diseases of childhood

Ebola hemorrhagic fever – causes

Ebola infection occurs as a result of direct contact of the damaged surface of the mucosa or skin with secretions (urine, stool, semen, saliva) or with the blood and body fluids of an infected person. The infection also occurs as a result of contact with dirty clothes or bedding of a sick person. In addition, cases of infection during funeral ceremonies have been reported. Contact of mourners with the body of the deceased caused the transmission of the Ebola virus.

People who died as a result of the Ebola virus should be buried with special gloves and protective clothing, and the ceremony itself should take place immediately after the patient’s death. Therefore, the WHO recommends that the funerals of such persons be dealt with by trained personnel with special equipment that enables them to be buried.

Therefore, the greatest risk of infection is found in:

1. medical personnel,
2. people / family members who have close contact with sick people,
3. mourners who had direct contact with the bodies of the infected during the funeral.

Please note that you cannot get Ebola infection via: money, swimming in the pool or food products.

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Symptoms of ebola hemorrhagic fever

After the Ebola hatching period of 2–21 days, the following occurs:

1. sudden temperature increase,
2. Headache,
3. sore throat,
4. muscle pain,
5. feeling of general breakdown.

In addition, the patient develops a tiring dry cough and a macular-papular rash on the skin. About the seventh day of the disease, coagulation disorders, bloody diarrhea and hemorrhages into the body cavities occur. The virus damages many parenchymal organs, so inflammation of the heart muscle, liver, pancreas, kidneys, lungs and testes can also occur.

The patient becomes dehydrated very quickly, as well as electrolyte and protein disturbances, which in turn causes extreme exhaustion and a large loss of body weight. Most people with symptoms of Ebola have evidence of liver damage accompanied by jaundice.

The patient’s condition worsens with the development of the disease, due to the intensification of hemorrhagic diathesis on the part of the gastrointestinal tract and as a result of coma. Why some patients recover spontaneously, although the disease is fatal in the majority of cases, remains unclear.

The mortality rate of this disease reaches 90 percent.

Also read: Infectious diseases during pregnancy

Diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Diagnosis is based on the usual symptoms and isolation of the virus from blood serum, possibly urine and throat swabs. In patients diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease, characteristic IgM and IgG antibodies are determined or the virus is searched for in the material taken from the corpse.

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Treatment of ebola hemorrhagic fever

According to The Scientist, there are currently two vaccines approved by regulatory authorities to prevent Ebola infection. WHO assured that the preparations will be purchased through it.

So far, no effective cure for the Ebola virus has yet been inventedAlthough new potential drug therapies are still being developed and tested, according to the BBC, drugs have been developed in recent years that may increase survival.

Treatment of hemorrhagic fever is symptomatic. It is important to balance the patient’s protein and water and electrolyte balance. In addition, current bleeding diathesis should be treated and the functioning of the respiratory and circulatory systems should be supported. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, it is important to isolate sick people from other patients.

Additionally, medical personnel should adhere to strictly defined safety rules. It should take measures to reduce or inhibit the spread of the virus. These activities are based on documented research.

Hand hygiene is also important, especially:

1. after leaving the patient’s isolation room and removing personal protective equipment;
2. even after potentially touching contaminated medical equipment or other objects in the patient’s surroundings;
3. before entering the patient’s isolation room and putting on personal protective equipment (before the patient undergoes clean-up procedures),
4. after the risk of exposure to the patient’s blood or body fluids.

For hand hygiene, you can use detergents based on soap and alcohol or running water. The WHO also recommends a special hand washing technique.

You should know that the Ebola virus is easily killed from action:

1. soaps,
2. bleach,
3. sunlight,    
4. high temperature or drying (above 60 degrees C). 

It should be added that clothes contaminated with body fluids can be washed in the washing machine and so effectively destroy the virus. In addition, it is worth being aware of the fact that the Ebola virus can only survive for a short time on surfaces exposed to the sun and dried out. In addition, it is also destroyed by ionizing radiation or available chemical disinfectants (e.g. phenol, methanol).

In addition, in preventing the disease, it is important to:

1. avoiding contact with infected patients by travelers to endemic areas,
2. advice on methods of preventing infections and treating the sick;
3. having knowledge about the symptoms of infection, thanks to which it is easier to recognize the first signs of hemorrhagic fever,
4. medical staff traveling to endemic areas adherence to the WHO infection control guidelines.

What to do when we notice symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever?

If you experience symptoms of ebola hemorrhagic fever, you should take the situation very seriously. You can start symptomatic treatment to alleviate the fever (take antipyretic drugs, e.g. paracetamol). In addition, it is recommended that you stay at home and avoid any contact with other people. An ambulance should be called as soon as possible, informing about suspected Ebola fever.

People with Ebola hemorrhagic fever require hospital treatment and strict isolation to prevent the transmission of infection and the spread of disease.

Ebola haemorrhagic fever – after stopping treatment

In cases where the course of Ebola fever was relatively mild, it is usually recommended to only lead a sparing lifestyle until well-being returns. However, if there were complications, then full recovery may be associated with a long convalescence.

Occasionally, after having experienced Ebola, it is necessary to refrain from any behavior that may lead to transmission of the virus (e.g. sexual intercourse during convalescence).

Also read: RPD: Infectious diseases can be prevented by vaccination

Ebola and further health problems

Ebola causes long-term health problems, according to doctors from the US National Institutes of Health. According to specialists, most people who have had Ebola infection experience significant body weakness, including nervous system problems, memory lapses, and signs of depression (some have attempted suicide). Among the most common problems in people who have passed the infection are meningitis, hallucinations and coma.

Interestingly, people who have had Ebola infection may have health problems even six months after the disease has subsided, and in extreme cases, even after 18 months. According to specialists, the Ebola virus may still be in the body of such people, dormant and cause health problems later.

As evidenced by the case of British nurse Pauline Cafferkey, after infection with the Ebola virus, this can develop into a life-threatening condition. A nurse contracted Ebola in 2014 and was hospitalized four times by 2016. Initially, her stay in the hospital was caused by an infection and lasted a short time, only from December 2014 to January 2015. With time, however, the infection returned and the woman had to be hospitalized again in October 2015. At that time, her condition was considered serious, because she had inflammation meninges, caused by the Ebola virus. However, her condition did improve, but in February 2016, the British woman was hospitalized for Ebola for the third time. At the end of the month, she left the hospital, but returned to it again in October of the same year for a checkup. It was then that an official statement was issued that the woman had tested negative for Ebola.

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Myths about Ebola hemorrhagic fever

The outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa and its appearance in more countries have spawned a myriad of myths about the spread and treatment of the virus. Here are a few of them:

1. It’s easy to catch the Ebola virus on a plane

It is possible, but not likely. The virus is transmitted through the body fluids of infected people – blood, urine, feces, vomiting and, to a lesser extent, saliva. If a person with the Ebola virus is next to us on an airplane and sneezes at us, and one of these airborne particles would land in our eyes, mouth, or on damaged skin, it could cause infection. However, this scenario is unlikely. People with Ebola aren’t contagious until symptoms appear, and someone with severe Ebola symptoms would likely be too sick to travel by air.

1. The Ebola virus can be transmitted through a mosquito bite

No, although there are other reasons to avoid mosquitoes, such as the risk of catching West Nile virus. Like HIV, Ebola can only be transmitted between mammals.

1. You can catch the Ebola virus through drinking water

Ebola virus is not waterborne. Should there be significant contamination of water, faeces or blood, it would theoretically be possible, but still unlikely.

1. You can get the Ebola virus by touching someone

There is only one answer: no. You would have to touch their bodily secretions, feces, or blood, and then touch their eyes, mouth, or nose. A handshake won’t do that.

1. The Ebola virus can only be transmitted from person to person

The original cause of an epidemic in humans is, in fact, other mammals. Bats are carriers of the virus, but this does not make them sick. Many primates can become infected from bats; they get sick like people. Humans can get infected from bats or other primates (by touching them, eating their meat, or coming into contact with their blood). Sick people then pass the virus to other people through contact with their blood, feces, or other body fluids. So it is not surprising that the majority of human transmission occurs from one patient to another, such as a healthcare professional.

1. The Ebola virus is a death sentence

No, but the death rates are high. There are three Ebola viruses that can infect humans and their death rates vary. Ebola virus, more precisely the strain called officially Zaire Ebola virus, has a mortality rate of around 30 percent if optimal medical care is in place.

1. Effective treatments for Ebola hemorrhagic fever can be purchased online

Effective medications for Ebola hemorrhagic fever are nowhere to be found. Antibody therapy (serum from Ebola survivors) is considered to be the most effective treatment option and is only available in hospitals.

1. Ebola hemorrhagic fever can be treated at home

Effective treatment of the Ebola virus must be delivered by trained health professionals and in a healthcare facility to ensure patients recover and prevent further spread of the disease. Active surveillance in health care facilities and in the community is essential to contain outbreaks while increasing preparedness and resilience to future outbreaks.

Ebola haemorrhagic fever – interesting fact

The Ebola virus can still hide in some body secretions, such as fluid in the eye, in patients who have healed. Should this happen, the consequence could be widespread uveitis, followed by loss of vision. It has also been found that the Ebola virus can also remain in male sperm for months.

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