Symptoms Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) , Causes and Prevention

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe disease that causes haemorrhagic fever in humans and animals. Diseases that cause haemorrhagic fevers, such as Ebola, are often fatal as they affect the body's vascular system (how blood moves through the body). This can lead to significant internal bleeding and organ failure.

The current outbreak of Ebola is in Central and West Africa. There have not been any cases of Ebola in Canada.

The Ebola virus can spread through:

• contact with infected animals
• contact with blood, body fluids or tissues of infected persons
• contact with medical equipment, such as needles, contaminated with infected body fluids

Exposure can occur in health care settings when staff do not wear appropriate protective equipment, such as masks, gowns and gloves.

As long as precautions are taken, there is low risk of contracting EVD in a country where the disease is present.

Symptoms Ebola

Signs and symptoms typically begin abruptly within five to 10 days of infection with Ebola or Marburg virus. Early signs and symptoms include:

• Fever
• Severe headache
• Joint and muscle aches
• Chills
• Weakness

Over time, symptoms become increasingly severe and may include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea (may be bloody)
• Red eyes
• Raised rash
• Chest pain and cough
• Stomach pain
• Severe weight loss
• Bleeding, usually from the eyes, and bruising (people near death may bleed from other orifices, such as ears, nose and rectum)
• Internal bleeding

Ebola Causes

Ebola virus has been found in African monkeys, chimps and other nonhuman primates. A milder strain of Ebola has been discovered in monkeys and pigs in the Philippines. Marburg virus has been found in monkeys, chimps and fruit bats in Africa.

Transmission from animals to humans

Experts suspect that both viruses are transmitted to humans through an infected animal's bodily fluids. Examples include:

• Blood. Butchering or eating infected animals can spread the viruses. Scientists who have operated on infected animals as part of their research have also contracted the virus.
• Waste products. Tourists in certain African caves and some underground mine workers have been infected with the Marburg virus, possibly through contact with the feces or urine of infected bats.

Transmission from person to person

Infected people typically don't become contagious until they develop symptoms. Family members are often infected as they care for sick relatives or prepare the dead for burial.

Medical personnel can be infected if they don't use protective gear, such as surgical masks and gloves. Medical centers in Africa are often so poor that they must reuse needles and syringes. Some of the worst Ebola epidemics have occurred because contaminated injection equipment wasn't sterilized between uses.

There's no evidence that Ebola virus or Marburg virus can be spread via insect bites.

Ebola infections be prevented?

There is currently no licensed vaccine or treatment for EVD.

If you are in a region where an Ebola outbreak has occurred, take these precautions:

1.  Avoid direct contact with blood, saliva, vomit, urine and other bodily fluids of people with EVD or unknown illnesses.

• Avoid direct contact with bodies of people who died of EVD or unknown illnesses.
• Avoid contact with any medical equipment, such as needles, contaminated with blood or bodily fluids.
• If you are a health care worker, practice strict infection control measures. This includes isolating infected individuals and properly using personal protective equipment (gowns, masks, goggles and gloves).
• If you are a health care worker, properly use and disinfect instruments and equipment used to treat or care for patients with Ebola—like needles and thermometers—before throwing them out. 

2.  Avoid close contact with wild animals and avoid handling wild meat.

• Avoid potential carriers, both live and dead, since both can spread the virus. Potential carriers of the virus include:

• chimpanzees
• gorillas
• monkeys
• forest antelope
• pigs
• porcupines, and
• fruit bats

3.  Know the symptoms of EVD and see a health care provider if they develop.

• Closely monitor your health during and after travel. Seek medical attention immediately if a fever and any other symptoms arise during or after travel.
• If you develop symptoms, be sure to tell your health care provider that you have travelled to a region where EVD was present.