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Ebola still exists in Africa, years after the last heavily publicized epidemic impacted the world from 2014 to 2016. Scientists cannot pinpoint exactly where an Ebola outbreak begins, but they know that Ebola is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids. Ebola can spread quickly if community members and healthcare workers do not have preventive measures.

Even so, Ebola is still considered a rare affliction, and there are many ways to protect yourself against the virus in the event of an outbreak or every bit a traveler to a country affected by Ebola.

In this section, we will provide an overview of the Ebola virus, how it affects the body and how the virus is transmitted. Nosotros'll also explore ways to protect oneself against the virus. It is possible to control Ebola — showtime by agreement how the virus works.

What exactly is Ebola?

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare and lethal affliction caused by a virus, and mostly affects people and nonhuman primates. It is also known as hemorrhagic fever considering the virus causes issues with how blood clots and might lead to internal bleeding. Ebola also causes tissue damage and inflammation. The average fatality rate is around l percent.

In humans, EVD is caused by the Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Tai Woods virus or Bundibugyo virus. Scientists do not know where the Ebola virus comes from, however, they believe it is creature-borne. Infected fruit bats are thought to be the nearly probable source of Ebola.

What happens to your body when you go Ebola?

Ebola symptoms do not necessarily announced immediately after exposure. It may have anywhere from ii to 21 days after exposure to the virus for symptoms to appear. On average, virtually people start to feel symptoms eight to 10 days afterwards coming into contact with the virus.

Some individuals might suspect they have the flu or malaria at first because these illnesses share many mutual symptoms with Ebola. Ebola symptoms may include the following:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Weakness
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Stomach hurting
  • Muscle pain
  • Unexplained bleeding or bruising

Most a calendar week after the beginning symptoms appear, most people develop a rash followed by hemorrhagic fever. The term hemorrhagic fever refers to a grouping of illnesses caused past 4 families of viruses. Ebola is one of the viruses that cause hemorrhagic fever. In itself, hemorrhagic fever refers to the interference of the body's ability to clot.

Considering Ebola attacks the immune organization, and leads to uncontrolled bleeding and organ impairment, upwards to 50 percent of people who get infected with Ebola will dice. Factors such as quality medical care and quick intervention greatly touch on a person'south chance of survival.

What causes an Ebola outbreak to start?

Scientists believe an Ebola outbreak begins when a man comes into contact with an infected creature. This might be an infected fruit bat or a non-human primate. Even though animals are thought to start Ebola outbreaks, scientists are still not sure exactly how the virus is transmitted by an fauna. They doubtable the disease spreads from animal to person by eating something that had contacted infected actual fluid from an animal, or by getting blood in the eyes from butchering an infected beast for meat.

In a review published in 2015, during the largest Ebola outbreak in Africa, researchers evaluated the connection between Ebola virus transmission and food. They found that there is a far greater relationship between food and Ebola than they had expected. Meat from wildlife such as rodents, bats, shrews and nonhuman primates have been plant to be infected with the Ebola virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have noted that eating and handling infected meat has led to transmission. Furthermore, bats tin transmit Ebola to other animals, which then spread the virus to humans.

Women presenting ebola poster in liberia
Mamu Paasewe, 35, and Bendu Fahnbulleh, 36, are two community educators who have been trained by Mercy Corps to assistance brainwash people in their community most the dangers and prevention of the Ebola virus."The problem is that some people still don't believe Ebola is real," Paasawe says. "And it spreads." Photograph: Sean Sheridan for Mercy Corps

What causes Ebola to spread?

Infographic with text: bodily fluids from an infected person; contaminated objects, such as needles; infected fruit bats and primates; semen from a person recently recovered

In one case a person becomes infected with the Ebola virus, they can spread the virus to another person through direct contact with bodily fluids. The infected actual fluid needs to enter a person's body to take effect and may enter through broken skin or the optics, nose or rima oris. A person might become Ebola if they come into contact with whatsoever of the following:

  • Blood or bodily fluid such as urine, saliva or sweat from a person who is infected with EVD or who has died from EVD
  • Objects such every bit needles that are contaminated with infected bodily fluid
  • Infected fruit bats or nonhuman primates
  • Semen from a person who recovered from EVD

How can you protect yourself against Ebola?

There are several means to prevent getting infected during an Ebola outbreak. Showtime, it's worth noting that although Ebola is contagious, information technology cannot spread to others when a person does not show symptoms. Also, there is no evidence that the virus can spread through water or air, and Ebola is not usually spread through food. Currently, at that place is no testify that Ebola can be spread through insects. Ebola can simply spread through directly contact with infected bodily fluids and is non as like shooting fish in a barrel to take hold of as the flu or the cold.

If you lot live in or programme to travel to a country where Ebola has been found, yous can take steps to protect yourself from the disease past:

  • Washing your hands often
  • Avoiding contact with bodily fluids
  • Avoiding contact with individuals who appear ill or who have a fever
  • Fugitive objects that accept come up in contact with an infected individual such equally bedding, wearable or medical equipment
  • Non handling someone who has died from Ebola
  • Fugitive contact with bats and nonhuman primates, and raw meat from these animals
  • Avoiding seeking medical care at hospitals where patients are being treated for Ebola
  • Paying attention to your wellness for 21 days later returning from a country where Ebola has been found
  • Seeking medical attention immediately if you experience whatever Ebola symptoms

Healthcare workers are especially vulnerable to Ebola. Healthcare workers and volunteers tin protect themselves by taking the following steps:

  • Wear personal protective equipment such as gloves, masks and middle protection
  • Practice proper infection command
  • Ensure medical supplies, surfaces and equipment are sterilized
  • Avoid handling bodies of those who died from Ebola
  • Let wellness officials know if you come into contact with the actual fluid of an infected patient

Mercy Corps prioritizes the value of hygiene through its work in Ebola-affected areas. During past outbreaks and the current one, we provide handwashing stations, access to clean water, and hygiene didactics to curb the spread of the illness.

Image: close-up of hand washing at a hand washing station
Mercy Corps provides the Malepe Wellness Center with hand launder kits. Regular handwashing with chlorinated water is 1 of the most effective ways to forbid the spread of the Ebola outbreak. Photo: Rudy Nkombo/Mercy Corps

Is at that place a vaccine to prevent Ebola?

According to the CDC, there currently is no approved vaccine for Ebola. Even so, the Globe Health Organization (WHO) mentions the utilize of a vaccine named rVSV-ZEBOV during an Ebola outbreak. This vaccine has shown to be prophylactic and constructive in countries fighting the Zaire strain of Ebola. The vaccine is recommended for use during outbreaks if a licensed vaccine is not available. The vaccine has been engineered to contain a poly peptide from the Zaire strain and to elicit an immune response to the virus. The vaccine was used during the Ebola epidemic in 2015 and was given to more than 16,000 volunteers.

Even though the vaccine was shown to exist safe and prevents infection, more enquiry is needed before information technology tin can become licensed. Information technology is only used to protect individuals who are at high risk of contracting the disease, such as close family members of Ebola patients or frontline healthcare workers. Individuals who receive this vaccine still need to take proper protective measures confronting Ebola. Scientists nevertheless do not know for sure how long the vaccine lasts, merely studies propose that patients experience protection for up to a year.

What are the long-term health effects of Ebola?

Ebola leaves a lasting impact on survivors and can stay in certain actual fluids after a person has recovered. Scientists are studying how long Ebola stays in the body of Ebola survivors. It is known that Ebola survivors have antibodies for up to 10 years after recovery which ways they may be able to provide care to sick individuals in the outcome of an outbreak. However, they should still take precautions, and the antibodies just provide protection against the same strain that the acquired the infection.

Many survivors face long-lasting health furnishings after contesting Ebola. The time it takes to completely overcome the virus varies between individuals. Ebola survivors may feel wellness complications later on recovery such as:

  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Musculus, joint or stomach pain
  • Vision problems or eye pain
  • Inflammation
  • Depression
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Also, Ebola survivors may face stigma when they re-enter their communities. For instance, some survivors report feeling rejected by friends, family and other members of the customs after Ebola. Many face up bigotry and grief, especially if they lost loved ones during an outbreak.

A survey published in BMJ Global Wellness found that PTSD and depression were mutual amongst survivors and family members a twelvemonth after coping with the effects of Ebola, and they may need psychosocial back up in addition to treatment for concrete symptoms. Survivors should continue in mind that they are critical to preventing future outbreaks and spreading hope throughout communities. They evidence communities across the earth that Ebola can be browbeaten, and they can apply their experiences to educate others nigh the virus.

Tin Ebola exist treated?

Currently, there is no approved treatment for Ebola, and a cure has not yet been discovered. Researchers are working on developing drugs that would end the virus from copying itself.

In the meantime, Ebola symptoms are treated equally they appear. Handling commonly includes providing fluids intravenously, oxygen therapy, medication to reduce vomiting and diarrhea, and treating other infections if present. The goal of treatment is to support a person's own immune organization until it can eradicate the virus and replace fluid loss. Recovery depends on a person's immune system and the quality of care and support they receive. Also, the earlier someone seeks treatment for Ebola, the better the outcome.

Tin you survive Ebola without handling?

Surviving Ebola depends largely on a person'due south immune arrangement, maintaining blood pressure level and replacing lost fluids. While experiencing Ebola symptoms, a person loses fluids apace. They need about 12 ounces of intravenous fluids every hour to support organ functioning. Therefore, it'due south non safe to say that i could survive Ebola without treatment.

How much does it cost to treat Ebola?

According to an article published in Pathogens and Global Health, researchers judge that the total societal costs of an Ebola case with full recovery range from $480 to $912. Cases where the patient does not survive range from an estimated $5,929 to $18,929 depending on the patient's age and country. Costs include care, additional personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, wages and productivity loss resulting from absenteeism or death. The study looked at costs in Guinea, Republic of liberia and Sierra Leone — the three countries most affected by the 2014 Ebola epidemic — with the goal to gain agreement and reduce the economic impact of an Ebola outbreak.

In the U.s., Ebola treatment is far more costly. It's estimated to have cost around $thirty,000 a day to care for ane Ebola patient during the epidemic. This amount as well includes money lost equally a effect of taking beds out of a ward where an Ebola patient was treated. How many Ebola survivors are in that location?

According to a WHO 2016 publication, at that place are over 10,000 Ebola survivors. Early on intervention is key to surviving Ebola. That's why Mercy Corps values early response and hygiene education.