This document provides information about Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. It can spread easily between people and animals through direct contact with body fluids. Common signs and symptoms include fever, muscle aches, vomiting and diarrhea in the early stages and later internal and external bleeding. While there is no vaccine or standard treatment, prevention focuses on avoiding contact with infected individuals or animals and thoroughly washing hands. The document outlines Ebola's transmission, signs, prevention methods and lack of a current vaccine.

1. EBOLA VIRUS
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE
POLYTECHNIC OF NAMIBIA

2. WHAT IS EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE
(EVD)?
•KNOWN AS EBOLA HEMORRHAGIC FEVER,
OFTEN-FATAL DISEASE AND EASILY SPREADS
FROM PERSON TO PERSON AND CAN
PREVENTED.

3. HOW IS EBOLA SPREAD
•DIRECT CONTACT WITH WOUNDS, BODY FLUIDS OF INFECTED
PERSON OR ANIMAL.
•UN-STERILIZED INJECTIONS.
•USING SKIN PIERCING INSTRUMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN USED BY
AN INFECTED PERSON.
•DIRECT PHYSICAL HANDLING OF PERSONS WHO HAVE DIED OF
EBOLA.
•EATING DEAD ANIMALS.

4. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
•INCUBATION PERIOD: 2-21 DAYS
•STAGE I
• MUSCLE ACHES, FEVER, VOMITING
• RED EYES, SKIN RASH, DIARRHEA,
STOMACH PAIN

5. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS cont…
•STAGE II (SPECIFIC):
• BLEEDING/HEMORRHAGING FROM SKIN, OPENINGS, INTERNAL
ORGANS
• ANURIA (THE ABSENCE OF URINE FORMATION)
• HICCUPS
• TACHYPNEA (RAPID BREATHING).

6. PREVENTION
• Avoid direct contact with body fluids, beddings and
clothing's.
• Do not touch wounds of an infected person with
unprotected hands.
• Do not use skin piercing instruments that have been
used on a patient suffering from Ebola.
• Avoid eating dead animals especially monkeys.

7. PREVENTION CONTINUES…
• PERSONS WHO HAVE DIED OF EBOLA MUST BE HANDLED WITH
STRONG PROTECTIVE WEAR AND BURIED IMMEDIATELY.
• AFTER HANDLING A PATIENT SUFFERING FROM EBOLA, YOU
MUST WASH YOUR HAND THOROUGHLY WITH SOAP AND
WATER.
• SUSPECTED PERSON MUST BE KEPT AWAY FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

8. TREATMENT
•NO STANDARD TREATMENT AVAILABLE
•PATIENTS RECEIVE SUPPORTIVE THERAPY:
•TREATING COMPLICATING INFECTIONS
•BALANCING PATIENT’S FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES
•MAINTAINING OXYGEN STATUS AND BLOOD PRESSURE

9. FACTS
• CAN BE PREVENTED,
• BODY FLUIDS ARE STILL INFECTIONS DAYS AFTER DEATH
• HIGHLY INFECTIOUS,
• CAN KILL IN SHORT TIME,
• NO VACCINE

10. THANK YOU
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