Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever is an almost always fatal disease caused by the Ebola virus, which is transmitted through contact with infected body fluids and tissues. It has a 90% fatality rate and symptoms include hemorrhaging, vomiting, and bleeding. While outbreaks most commonly occur in Africa, there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.

1. Ebola HemorrhagicEbola Hemorrhagic
FeverFever
Fatal 90% of the timeFatal 90% of the time

2. Ebola VirusEbola Virus
 Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever is anEbola Hemorrhagic Fever is an
almost always fatal diseasealmost always fatal disease
 Caused by an infection withCaused by an infection with
the Ebola virusthe Ebola virus
 Transmitted zoonticly, orTransmitted zoonticly, or
animal borne.animal borne.
 The virus is spread throughThe virus is spread through
acute infections and has noacute infections and has no
carrier statecarrier state
 Communicable through anCommunicable through an
infected person by coming ininfected person by coming in
contact with secretions,contact with secretions,
needles used by the infected,needles used by the infected,
and breathing the same air.and breathing the same air.

3. Who Does It Affect?Who Does It Affect?
 Humans andHumans and
nonhuman primatesnonhuman primates
like monkeys, gorillas,like monkeys, gorillas,
and chimpanzeesand chimpanzees

4. OriginOrigin
 Most outbreaks wereMost outbreaks were
seen in Africaseen in Africa
 Ebola was actuallyEbola was actually
named after a river innamed after a river in
the Democraticthe Democratic
Republic of theRepublic of the
Congo in AfricaCongo in Africa
 One of the twoOne of the two
members of a familymembers of a family
of RNA viruses calledof RNA viruses called
the Foloviridae.the Foloviridae.

5. Five Sub-TypesFive Sub-Types
 Ebola-ZaireEbola-Zaire
 Ebola-SudanEbola-Sudan
 Ebola-Ivory CoastEbola-Ivory Coast
 Ebola-BundibugyoEbola-Bundibugyo
all have caused disease in humansall have caused disease in humans
 Ebola-RestonEbola-Reston
found in nonhuman primates but not infound in nonhuman primates but not in
humans.humans.

6. Signs & SymptomsSigns & Symptoms
 The incubation period 2-22The incubation period 2-22
daysdays
 Lesser ailments include fever,Lesser ailments include fever,
joint and muscle aches, sorejoint and muscle aches, sore
throat, weakness, diarrhea,throat, weakness, diarrhea,
vomiting, rash, and hiccups.vomiting, rash, and hiccups.
 More extreme symptomsMore extreme symptoms
include severe stomach pain,include severe stomach pain,
internal and external bleeding,internal and external bleeding,
limited kidney and liverlimited kidney and liver
function, chest pain, shock,function, chest pain, shock,
blindness, and vomiting blood.blindness, and vomiting blood.

7. Why Is Ebola So Deadly?Why Is Ebola So Deadly?
 The virus is usually detected after some of the moreThe virus is usually detected after some of the more
severe signs and symptoms begin to appearsevere signs and symptoms begin to appear
 90% of the time a fatal disease90% of the time a fatal disease
 Ebola is often mistaken for malaria, typhoid fever,Ebola is often mistaken for malaria, typhoid fever,
dysentery, influenza, or bacterial infectionsdysentery, influenza, or bacterial infections
 Appears in sporadic outbreaks most times in a healthAppears in sporadic outbreaks most times in a health
care setting – amplificationcare setting – amplification
 Chronic-only 10% of the people who get it surviveChronic-only 10% of the people who get it survive
 No information or records of a person who has caughtNo information or records of a person who has caught
Ebola twice; probably b.c. most victims die from getting itEbola twice; probably b.c. most victims die from getting it
onceonce

8. How It WorksHow It Works
 The virus interferes with theThe virus interferes with the
endothelial cells lining theendothelial cells lining the
interior surface of blood vesselsinterior surface of blood vessels
 As the virus attacks the cellsAs the virus attacks the cells
that make up the blood vesselthat make up the blood vessel
walls, the walls becomewalls, the walls become
damaged and destroyeddamaged and destroyed
 The platelets are unable toThe platelets are unable to
coagulate (clot) resulting incoagulate (clot) resulting in
 Profuse, and often fatal,Profuse, and often fatal,
internal bleedinginternal bleeding

9. Cures or Vaccines?Cures or Vaccines?
 Prevention: stay away from infected persons or animalsPrevention: stay away from infected persons or animals
 Most people get sick from taking care of infected familyMost people get sick from taking care of infected family
or friends and not using proper preventive measures i.e.or friends and not using proper preventive measures i.e.
wearing gloves and/or a maskwearing gloves and/or a mask
 There is no vaccine or known course of treatment forThere is no vaccine or known course of treatment for
EbolaEbola
 Patients can undergo supportive therapy and treatmentPatients can undergo supportive therapy and treatment
for some symptomsfor some symptoms
 Scientists are still researching vaccines, cures, and moreScientists are still researching vaccines, cures, and more
effective treatmentseffective treatments
 Most people die from the massive blood loss, notMost people die from the massive blood loss, not
necessarily from the diseasenecessarily from the disease