Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal illness in humans. In the most recent outbreak in West Africa, so far have been reported 17111 total cases, 10780 lab-confirmed cases and 6055 total deaths.
One of the best ways to prevent the spread is the proper use of correct equipment in personal health, but a 2011 study indicates that in the United States 22% of health staff did not know how to use it correctly and 32% did not receive training to use it.
Ebola is a deadly virus that requires preventive measures. There are several techniques for diagnosis, but a major challenge for it is that the disease is difficult to distinguish from other infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever and meningitis. Among EVD’s most common symptoms are: fever (87%), fatigue (76%), vomiting (68%), diarrhea (66%), and lack of appetite (65%). In non-fatal cases, patients may have fever for several days and improve, typically around day 6. However a large percentage of affected patients develop more severe clinical signs early during infection and die typically between days 6 and 16.
There is no yet a proven treatment for EVD, but doctors offer support treatments to improve the general condition of the patient and their particular symptoms, plus for complications that may arise. Above all, prevention is the best solution, avoiding the spread and contagion, which is through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
People who have similar symptoms or have any questions, you should go quickly to an Emergency Room to be reviewed and advised by trained personnel. It is fundamental not self-medicate.
