Dr. Ankitha Teja Narayan, Attending Consultant – Internal Medicine, KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City, Bengaluru
Ebola is a virus known to cause deadliest disease and a threat to humanity. The disease emerged in 1976 near the Ebola river in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hence the name. It is also called as Sudan Virus. It was mainly confined to African Countries with several outbreaks. But it has now been a new global pandemic.
Ebola spreads mainly through the direct contact with the infected persons body fluids like Blood, saliva, urine and sweat. It can also spread through contaminated needles, medical equipments or clothing. Unlike influenza or Covid, this virus does not spread through air droplets. The natural hosts of Ebola virus are fruit bats.
The initial symptoms of Ebola are fever, headache, severe muscle pain and generalised weakness. Additional symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, rashes on the skin, internal and external bleeding. As the disease progresses it can lead to multi-organ failure and death. The case fatality rate is high in Ebola compared to other common viral infections. Symptoms usually appear between 2- 21 days after the exposure.
There have been several outbreaks within the African Countries, claiming the lives of many people which has troubled the healthcare system to manage the crisis. There is no cure for the disease but if diagnosed early, supportive treatment can improve the survival.
In recent years, vaccines have been developed which has played a vital role in preventing the outbreaks.
Prevention is the key! Practising safe hand hygiene, use of protective equipments by healthcare workers, isolation protocols, safe burial practices, public awareness about the nature of disease and preventive aspects plays a crucial role.
In conclusion, Ebola is not a new virus, it is not just a medical challenge but also a social and economic challenge. Although the disease has frightened the people globally, preventing panic and misinformation during outbreaks plays a crucial role.
Global cooperation, better preparedness can significantly improve the ability to tackle the outbreaks and prevent future epidemics.