Ebola virus (Marburg virus)- Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Ebola virus (Marburg virus)- Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

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Ebola virus (Marburg virus)- Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Ebola virus is a severe viral disease that causes bleeding and organ damage in a human being. The virus can be transmitted through animals and humans through blood contact.

Eating meat that is not fresh and washed cleanly can give birth to diseases like Ebola. Using Uncleansed needles, sharing water bottles, and kissing are common causes of it. The virus was basically acquired through the exposure of bats to humans and then started transmitting from person to person.

Ebola virus is one of the most serious and deadliest virus outbreaks. The virus has stayed for decades and the largest severe outbreak of the Ebola virus was in the 2014 march in Africa. The last outbreak was in the year 2018.

However, it would not be fair to say that the Ebola virus no more exists because it has just reduced, not vanished.

Unfortunately, there is no prescribed drug to be given for the virus treatment and the infection has threatened the life of more than 90% of people. However, scientists are working hard for discovering proper medications for the Ebola virus.

Active Symptoms –

Table of Contents

The symptoms of the Ebola virus can be experienced within a week or two. The symptoms and signs can be mild, moderate, or severe. Some of the general signs by which you can detect the Ebola virus in one can include –

• Body and muscle pain

• Bleeding from eyes, nose, ears, and rectum

• Headache

• Vomiting and nausea

• Diarrhoea

• Fever

• Weakness, tiredness, and restlessness

• Joint pain

• Chills

• Bruising

• Sudden and unwanted weight loss

• Chest pain

• Pain in the abdomen

• Severe Stomach pain

• Redness in eyes

• Skin rashes

• Cough and sore throat

Causes

The Ebola virus has basically spread through African bats. The virus is a subpart of filovirus infection.

The virus is also called zoonotic virus as it is spread from animals to humans.
The virus has been approved in animals which include African monkeys, chimps, Philippines pigs, and nonhuman primates. The virus can be spread by blood, body fluids, shared items like clothes, beds, needles, foods, etc.

Some of the causes and general carriers of the virus can be –

• Eating infectious animals meat

• Contact with feces and urine

• Kissing and having sex in an unhygienic condition

• Breast milk

• Touching dead bodies of Ebola virus

When to seek medical attention

Ebola virus is a highly deadly disease, symptoms detection needs not to be delayed for later treatment and steps need to be taken soon. Basically, if you find any sort of bleeding through the eyes, ears, nose, or rectum, you should understand the signal and visit your doctor for diagnosis and further treatment.

Complications

Few serious complications associated with the Ebola virus can be –

• Jaundice

• Hairfall

• Organ failure

• Shock or coma

• Death

• Seizures

• Delirium

• Severe Internal bleeding

• Hepatitis

• Testicular inflammation

Prevention steps to be taken against the Ebola virus

• The first step include taking a vaccine for the Ebola virus

• Quit eating bush meats

• Travel to a safe place ( which does not have Ebola virus outbreaks ).

• Avoid any kind of contact with the person infected with the Ebola virus

• Wash your hands frequently using alcohol-based sanitizers and soaps.

• Keep your personal protective equipment and do not share it with anyone.

• Bury the dead body (caused due to Ebola virus) with the help of specialized teams and not yourself

Myth created about Ebola virus –

Myth – Ebola virus is transmitted through air

Fact – no , there is no such study or scientific proof of this.

Myth – Ebola virus is highly infectious

Fact – Ebola is not highly infectious as it spreads only through body fluids , blood and saliva.

Myth – Ebola virus can be treated itself at home by going for home remedies

Fact – unfortunately , home remedies can do nothing in this. You need to get proper treatment or you would lose your life.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis for the Ebola virus is quite challenging for the experts as it includes symptoms of many other diseases like typhoid. Moreover, some of the diagnosis steps they go for include –

• Blood tests

• Polymerase chain reaction tests (PCR)

• White blood cells count

• Enzyme – linked immunosorbant assay ( ELISA ) tests.

Treatment

There is no perfect cure for the Ebola virus. There are few approved medications by the food and drug administration. Moreover, simple habit changes can help. The suggested one includes the following –

• Balanced oxygen level of the body

• Monoclonal antibodies inmates and bang medications

• Maintaining electrolyte levels of the body

• Balance the blood pressure in the body

• Staying hydrated by consuming lots of fluids (intravenous and oral)

• Reacquiring lost blood from the body

Vaccines available for Ebola virus

There are currently two vaccines approved and licensed by the US food and drug administration and the world health organization.

1. ERVEBO ( Ebola Zaire vaccine ) approves by the US food and drug administration. The vaccine is available in a single dose for ages of 18 years and above.

2. The second vaccine has been used in the democratic republic of Congo. They are currently available in two doses with a gap of 56 days.

Frequently asked questions –

1. Can I get Ebola virus twice ?

Answer – yes , it is possible to get the virus twice.

2. Can I get affected by Ebola virus even when I have taken the vaccine ?

Answer – the vaccine will just reduce the coverage risk of the virus but you can still get affected as it does not guarantee 100% prevention.

3. Can I get Ebola through sewage and water bodies ?

Answer – no , Ebola virus is not a water borne disease

4. Is Ebola a fatal disease ?

Answer – Ebola virus is a fatal disease if not take care properly. However , proper treatment would help reducing the diseases risk.

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