What caused Ebola virus?
What caused Ebola virus?
EVD is caused by the Ebola virus. It’s origin or how it started is unknown. Scientists believe that it is animal-borne and most likely comes from bats, which transmit the Ebola virus to other animals and humans. There is no proof that mosquitos or other insects can transmit the virus.
What type of person is usually affected by Ebola?
For most people visiting countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the risk of exposure to the Ebola virus is minimal. People most at risk are those who care for infected people, such as aid workers, or those who handle their blood or body fluid, such as hospital workers, laboratory workers and family members.
What are the signs and symptoms of Ebola?
Primary signs and symptoms of Ebola often include some or several of the following: Aches and pains, such as severe headache and muscle and joint pain Gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting Unexplained hemorrhaging, bleeding or bruising Other symptoms may include red eyes, skin rash, and hiccups (late-stage).
What should you do if you have the Ebola virus?
People with Ebola virus or Marburg virus are most contagious in the later stages of the disease. Follow infection-control procedures. If you’re a health care worker, wear specialized personal protective equipment that covers you from head to toe. Keep people who have the viruses isolated from others.
What’s the incubation period for the Ebola virus?
The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days.
How is the Ebola virus transmitted from person to person?
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%.