1. What is Ebola?
Ebola, formerly known as hemorrhagic fever, is a life-threatening ebolavirus infection, as in
the case that has been detected in Goma (Democratic Republic of the Congo); a city of over
a million inhabitants.
Ebolavirus belong to the family of filoviruses. It is spread though body fluids. The affected
person must be isolated immediately and their treatment requires protective measures for
anyone who is in contact the patient.
SYMPTOMS OF EBOLA
Symptoms normally start two to three weeks after contracting the virus.
- Severe headache
- Eye irritation.
- High fever.
- Sore throat.
- Muscle pains.
- Shaking chills.
- Weakness. - Fatigue.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Diarrhea. - Rashes.
- Liver and kidney failure.
- Bleeding from the mouth and rectum and / or from the nose, eyes and ears.
Diagnosis of ebola
Ebola diagnosis
The diagnosis is confirmed by a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction PCR-RT
test. Detects virus and antigens in a fluid sample.
Treatment and medication of ebola
Ebola treatment and medication
Ebola does not have a specific treatment. The patient must be isolated and attended by
qualified personnel and with the precise protective equipment against biological risks. It is
about alleviating the symptoms and suffering of the patient by rehydrating him orally or
2. intravenously and administering antipyretics, analgesics, antiemetics and tranquilizers. It
is important to control blood pressure, apply oxygen if there are breathing difficulties,
control the risk of other infections with broad-spectrum antibiotics. Blood transfusions,
plasma replacement therapy, and dialysis may also be necessary. After overcoming the
disease, in the long term, it can lead to joint and visual problems.
Ebola prevention
Prevention of ebola
Prevention measures focus on adequate hygiene and disinfection; avoid people showing
signs of disease in areas where the disease has been declared or in an epidemic; not to
manipulate corpses of deceased by ebolavirus; and use highly protective equipment in
case of being in contact with the virus, applying the measures recommended by the health
authorities for its placement and also for its removal.
Also, the experimental vaccine. It proved effective in 2015 in people who were not
infected but who were in contact with the virus.
It is recommended to have hygienic and safe sexual relations with the use of correctly
applied barrier contraceptives and to discard them applying safety protocols.
WHERE DOES EBOLA DISEASE APPEAR?
This condition was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of
the Congo. Since then, several small outbreaks have occurred in Africa. The 2014 outbreak
was the largest. The countries that were most affected by this outbreak included:
• Guinea
• Liberia
• Sierra Leone
Cases of Ebola disease have been previously reported in:
• Nigeria
• Senegal
• Spain
• United States
• Mali
• United Kingdom
• Italy