Ebola is a highly contagious disease that started in the early months of 2015. The outbreak was contained in the three affected countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia after 42 days of continuous transmission. The outbreak has caused more than 11,300 deaths. This article covers some symptoms, causes, treatments, and prevention.
Symptoms
If you’re traveling to a country where the Ebola virus is active, you should avoid contact with infected people. In addition, you should visit the CDC Ebola website to learn about outbreaks in your destination country. It’s also important to wash your hands frequently and to use alcohol-based hand sanitizers. You should also avoid touching your eyes and covering wounds and stay away from contact with body fluids and personal items.
If you have experienced symptoms of Ebola, you’ll need to see a doctor immediately. Symptoms of the disease include internal and external bleeding, diarrhea, stool blood, and low white blood cell counts. You’ll also need to have your blood regularly tested to check for signs of the virus. Your blood pressure will also be monitored. In addition, a physician can discuss the possibility of getting you treated with a medicine called Inmazeb.
The symptoms of Ebola may develop up to 21 days after exposure to the virus. However, most Ebola symptoms begin between 8 and 10 days after exposure. Although most people recover from Ebola, they may experience long-term complications. These long-term complications can include fatigue, vision problems, and hearing loss. Testicles may also be affected by the virus.
Treatments
While there are currently no approved Ebola treatments, the WHO is preparing to work with manufacturers and countries to improve treatment access. The global health organization also plans to support national efforts to increase the affordability of the drugs. The current cost of the drugs is prohibitive for many people in developing countries, and the WHO wants to find ways to increase the availability of these drugs.
Ebola is contagious and spreads through bodily fluids. In many cases, it causes high fever, bleeding, vomiting, and death. Treatment for an Ebola infection should begin as soon as possible after diagnosis, according to the WHO. Other treatments include fluids and medications to control symptoms.
Although there are currently no proven Ebola treatments, scientists focus on developing more effective ones. One such treatment is an Ebola vaccine. This vaccine is safe for adults over 18 and has been tested on approximately 15,000 people in Africa, Europe, and North America. The vaccine is given as a single-dose injection. However, it can cause side effects such as fatigue and joint aches.
Prevention
The world has noticed the latest Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Unfortunately, the disease is spreading rapidly, often crossing international boundaries. In the West Africa Ebola Outbreak of 2014-2016, more than 28,000 people contracted the disease, and more than 11,000 died, prompting global action. To help prevent further outbreaks, Janssen scientists accelerated their work on developing a vaccine, forging new partnerships and mobilizing for multiple studies in three continents.
The best way to prevent the spread of Ebola is to limit contact with bodily fluids and blood. The virus can survive for several hours on dry surfaces and a few days in body fluids. Therefore, the virus can be spread to humans, healthcare facilities, and public areas through close contact with these fluids.
The virus originated in Sudan in 1976 and has been responsible for several outbreaks. Until this outbreak, Ebola was only a threat in the sub-Saharan regions of Africa, but it did make its way into other parts of the world. Eleven cases of Ebola were treated in the United States, with two people dying.