So what is it?
It is a disease caused by a virus and used to be called Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
What are the symptoms?
- sudden onset of fever
- intense weakness
- muscle pain
- headache
- sore throat
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- rash
- impaired liver and kidney function
- sometimes internal and external bleeding
How do you get it?
transmitted originally from wild animals then human spread by:
- blood
- secretions
- organs
- other bodily fluids
How do you treat?
often requires intensive support. There is yet no definitive drug treatment.
How do you prevent?
Since there is no vaccine yet, best way to avoid spread in humans is by raising awareness. Avoiding close contact with infected or suspected infected persons is key. Health care workers have to implement extra precautions with protective garments and other measures.
Can read more about it here at the WHO website.
The two Americans who got infected with Ebola both worked as missionaries in Africa treating patients infected with the virus. This tugs at my heart because doing missions played a key role in my decision to become a physician. Here is an article by CMDA about Dr Kent Brantly, one of the Americans who is infected with Ebola. After reading the article this verse keeps echoing in my head...
"For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21
