This document provides information about Ebola virus disease (EVD), including: 1. EVD was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is caused by the Ebola virus and the natural reservoir is fruit bats. 2. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with body fluids of infected humans or animals. Symptoms include fever, muscle pain, and bleeding. There is no vaccine but supportive care is provided. 3. The current 2014 outbreak in West Africa is the largest, impacting Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. Prevention emphasizes hygiene, isolation of patients, safe burials, and avoiding contact with bats or ap

1. EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE (EVD )
12 AUGUST
2014

2. Outline
Definition of terms
Brief history
Causative organism/Reservoir of
infection
Mode of transmission
Signs and symptoms
Current update
Prevention and Control

3. Meaning of Acronyms
EVD - Ebola Virus Disease
EVHF - Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
VHF - Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
CFR – Rate (%) of death in those with a disease
PPE - Personal Protective Equipment
LGA- Local Government Authority

4. Definition of Terms
Incubation period – interval between entrance of an
infectious agent into the body and manifestation of signs
and symptoms of disease.
Reservoir of infection – organism in which an infectious
agent lives, multiplies and acts as source of infection.
Zoonotic infection – infection primarily of animals which is
transmissible to man.

5. Brief History
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) also known as Ebola Viral
Haemorrhagic Fever (EVHF) first appeared in 1976 in two (2)
simultaneous outbreaks:
- in a village near Ebola River in Northern part of Zaire
(now emocratic Republic of Congo - DRC) from which the
disease derived its name.
- in a remote area of Sudan.

6. Other Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs)
Other VHFs in the same group as EVD are:
- Yellow fever
- Lassa fever
- Dengue fever
- Marburg viral disease
Yellow fever and Dengue fever are transmitted by
mosquito.
Lassa fever is transmitted by a rat.

7. Causative Organism & Reservoir of Infection
Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) is caused by Ebola virus. It is a zoonotic
infection.
The reservoir of infection for EVD was not known initially but
researchers has now linked it to Fruit Bats
The virus has also been found in monkeys, gorillas and
chimpanzees
The incubation period of the disease is 2-21 days (5-12 days in
most cases)

8. Reservoir of Infection

9. Mode of Transmission
Close contact with (handling) the blood, secretions, organs or other
body fluids of infected animals found ill or dead in the rainforest -
chimpanzees, monkeys, gorillas, fruit bats, antelope and porcupines.
Eating of undercooked infected animals.
Direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood,
secretions, organs or other body fluids (urine, stool, saliva, breast milk,
semen) of infected persons.
Indirect contacts with materials contaminated with the fluids of
infected persons.
No case of transmission by domestic animals (e.g. pig) reported

10. Mode of Transmission
Direct contact with the body of deceased person
during burial ceremonies or autopsy.
Persons who have recovered from EVD can still
transmit the virus through sex for up to 7 weeks
after recovery.

11. Persons at most Risk
People in direct contact with infected persons –
family members, home caregivers, healthcare
workers.
Mourners who have direct contact with the
infected dead bodies.
Morticians – autopsy on infected corpse.
Hunters who have contact with dead animals in
the forest.

12. Signs and Symptoms
Early symptoms, which may be observed as early as 2 days from
exposure (average = 5-8 days) are similar to that of common
diseases (malaria, typhoid):
- Acute fever
- Generalized body pain and weakness, even joint pains
- Tiredness
- Sore throat
- Nausea
- Headache
- Difficulty in swallowing

13. Signs and Symptoms
Later symptoms may manifest as bleeding from different orifices or openings
in the body:
- Nose bleeding
- Vomiting of blood
- Bleeding into the eyes
- Stooling of blood
- Bleeding into the skin
- Bleeding from the ear
- In pregnant women, abortion (miscarriage) and heavy vaginal bleeding are
common.

14. Signs and Symptoms
Damage to the vital organs in the body especially the liver and the
kidney are possible complications of the disease.
Most cases may present in the health facilities when the late
symptoms of the disease are experienced – increased case fatality.
Hence, health workers need to have high index of suspicion to avoid
infection / development of the disease.
Death usually occurs during the second week - usually due to massive
blood loss.

15. Diagnosis
Ebola virus infections can be diagnosed in a
laboratory.

16. Current Update on EVD Outbreak W/Africa
Outbreak of 2014 is most challenging witnessed in Africa,
crossing Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone and very recently
Nigeria.
The head doctor treating patients with Ebola in Sierra Leone,
virologist Sheik Umar Khan, has himself contracted the virus and
died.
An American doctor and health worker were recently evacuated
to USA from Liberia and are reported to be responding to
treatment (new drug).

17. Prevention– Personal & Environment Hygiene
The risk of infection can be reduced by observing high standard of
personal and environmental hygiene:
- Regular hand washing with soap and water, (sanitizer if soap and
water not available)
- Always wash your fruits and your vegetables before cooking.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick or with
suspicious signs and places of outbreak.
- Do not touch patients, their secretions and body fluids
(blood, vomit, stool, urine, mucus secretion)
- Ensure that objects used by the sick are decontaminated and
properly disposed.

18. Do we wash our hands?

19. Prevention Personal & Environment Hygiene
-DO NOT wash, touch or kiss dead bodies – keep away.
-DO NOT wash hands in the same bucket as other who have
touched a dead body.
-Watch out for the warning signs which mimic malaria
symptoms.
-Isolation of patients with high index of suspicion.
-Health workers should observe universal safety precautions
when attending to all patients by use of PPE.
-Traditional burial rituals especially those requiring
touching, embalming of bodies are discouraged.

20. Prevention of EVD
- Avoid eating bush meat for now, especially bat &
monkey/baboon/ape & antelope.
- Continuous public health education and awareness on the disease
using multimedia including social media platforms (twitter, WhatsApp,)
- Help spread the campaign
- Reporting and taking any suspected case to the nearest health facility
- Health facilities should immediately inform the
LGA health authorities and then Ministry of Health
- Ill persons to keep away from others so they don’t get sick

21. Health Care Workers - Decontamination

22. Supportive Treatment of EVD
No vaccine or specific
treatment is available for
EVD.
Suspected or confirmed
cases are given supportive
therapy.
A new drug (experimental
serum) is being tested in
USA.