The World Health Organization recently warned of the seriousness of the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, declaring the situation a "public health emergency of international concern".
Ebola is one of the most dangerous rare viral diseases, as it is transmitted through contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal, and often leads to death if the infected person does not receive prompt medical care.
Symptoms of the disease usually appear between 2 and 21 days after infection, and often begin with flu-like symptoms, such as:
High temperature.
Muscle pain.
sore throat.
As the condition progresses, other symptoms may appear, including:
Vomiting and diarrhea.
Abdominal pain.
rash.
Yellowing of the skin and eyes.
Bruises all over the body.
The presence of blood in vomit or stool.
Bleeding from the nose, gums, eyes, ears, or mouth.
Although Ebola is commonly associated with bleeding, the World Health Organization points out that these symptoms often appear in the later stages and are not among the common early signs.
There are three main types of viruses that causEbola:
Ebola virus.
Sudan virus.
Bondibugyo virus.
To date, there are only approved vaccines and treatments available for the Ebola virus, while the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is related to the Bundibugyo virus.
To reduce the risk of infection, the UK's National Health Service (NHS) advises:
Wash your hands frequently.
Clean the fruits and vegetables thoroughly.
Avoid contact with those who are infected or suspected of being infected.
Do not share towels or bed linens with others.
Treatment and chances of survival
Early medical intervention greatly increases the chances of surviving the disease. Patients are usually isolated in hospitals to receive care in specialized units, where treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and preventing complications, such as intravenous fluid replacement to avoid dehydration.
According to the World Health Organization, the average mortality rate from Ebola is about 50%, while mortality rates in previous outbreaks ranged between 25% and 90%, depending on how quickly cases were detected and healthcare was available.
