Ebola is an infectious disease that is
life-threatening and has already killed thousands of people. The origin of
the virus is in Africa. The causer is the Ebola virus. So far there
is no approved therapy against the severe Ebola infection that directly addresses
the cause, i.e. the Ebola virus. A vaccine against Ebola was approved for
the first time in November 2019.
Researchers first detected the Ebola virus, which
is one of the filoviruses, in 1976. At that time, the Ebola disease broke out
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near the river Ebola, from which it was
finally named. To Ebola epidemics occur
since then, especially in African countries south of the Sahara are. In
2014/15 there was a major Ebola outbreak that claimed 11,000 deaths. There
is currently an outbreak of the infectious disease in the Dominican Republic of
the Congo.
The Ebola virus is one of the deadliest pathogens
known to mankind: between 30 and 90 percent of patients
die from the infection. Ebola is subject to mandatory reporting
- this is the only way to prevent or at least limit its spread.
Ebola symptoms
Ebola causes fever and bleeding
as classic symptoms. Doctors also use the term "hemorrhagic fever" to summarize both
signs of Ebola . If a person is infected with the Ebola virus, it
spreads rapidly in the body. Because the viruses attack, among other
things, the cells of the immune system that circulate in the blood and thus
through the whole body. The Ebola virus destroys the blood cells and
attacks the skin and liver. As the disease progresses, blood clotting
becomes disrupted, causing bleeding in various
organs and tissues.
The early symptoms of Ebola, however, are rather
unspecific and resemble those of a cold (flu-like
infection). The following complaints can occur:
- Flu-like
syndrome: Those affected first complain of fever,
chills, general malaise, tiredness, weakness, headache , muscle aches and pain in the limbs.
- Gastrointestinal
phase ( after three to ten days): These Ebola
symptoms mainly affect the gastrointestinal tract. Patients
experience upper abdominal pain, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea . These
may conjunctivitis , skin rash ,
sore throat, difficulty swallowing, oral mucosal inflammation, vertigo or
fatigue come.
- Turning
point: after a few days, the disease may
improve and the symptoms subside. Patients in whom this is the case
survive the Ebola infection, but often suffer from long-term effects such
as liver inflammation or psychological disorders.
- Hemorrhagic
phase : Now the condition of Ebola patients is
worsening again. There is bleeding in the skin, mucous membrane,
conjunctiva, as well as in tissues and organs; convulsions, impaired
consciousness, confusion, hearing loss and delirium can also be
observed. The end result is shock, breathing disorders and organ
failure - this hemorrhagic phase is almost always fatal.
In the early stages of Ebola, it is not that easy
for doctors to make the correct diagnosis quickly . Sometimes
it turns out that patients with suspected Ebola are not infected with this
virus at all, but are suffering from malaria, yellow, dengue or Lassa
fever. The last three diseases, like Ebola, are hemorrhagic
fevers. Only evidence of the Ebola virus in blood or skin samples is
really reliable. For safety reasons, only specialized laboratories are
allowed to perform these tests.
Ebola: vaccination
Because the Ebola virus is highly contagious and
has already claimed thousands of lives, scientists have worked under high
pressure on a vaccination in recent years
. In November 2019, a vaccine against Ebola virus disease was
approved for the first time in the European Union.
The vaccine was used in West Africa in 2014/15 and
in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2018 - at that time, however, as
part of scientific studies. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI),
around 250,000 people have currently been vaccinated against Ebola. The
World Health Organization (WHO) assumes an effectiveness of the vaccine of over
97 percent.
According to the WHO, the vaccination can cause
minor side effects such as headache, fever, muscle pain and
exhaustion. However, the vaccine should only protect against a renewed
Ebola infection for about 12 months. According to the WHO, the data
situation is too poor to provide more precise information.
Ebola: transmission
The cause of Ebola is the Ebola virus. The
most common transmission occurs when a person has had direct contact with
someone infected with Ebola or someone who has died from it. So the virus
is transmitted from person to person . The Ebola
virus is infected through contact with body fluids such as blood,
saliva, sweat, urine, stool or vomit . These excretions from
Ebola patients are highly infectious. Researchers have not yet observed a
transmission of the Ebola virus via the air (droplet infection).
Ebola: transmission through animals and contaminated objects
Also the contact with animals appears
to play a role in the transmission of Ebola. Researchers assume that wild
animals such as bats or flying foxes harbor the pathogens, i.e. are the natural
reservoir for the Ebola virus. But great apes are also a possible source
of infection. The infection with Ebola occurs through contact with the
blood and other body fluids of infected animals (live or dead). The
preparation and consumption of raw meat from these wild animals is also a
possible route of infection.
In principle, Ebola infection is also possible
through objects that are contaminated with body fluids. Examples are syringes, clothing or bed
linen. Outside of the body, the Ebola pathogen can survive in the
environment for a few days - it therefore remains infectious.
Ebola: incubation period varies considerably
The incubation period for
Ebola varies greatly from person to person: Sometimes only two days pass between infection with the virus and the
onset of the disease . In other people, it takes three weeks for the pathogen to trigger the first
symptoms in them. On average, however, the incubation period for Ebola
is eight to nine days .
When is Ebola contagious and how long?
Anyone who is infected with the Ebola virus is only
contagious when they show the first symptoms. The more pronounced the
symptoms are and the more severe the disease, the greater the risk of infection
for others. Doctors, carers and undertakers in particular have to protect
themselves adequately through certain measures and pay close attention to
hygiene. This also applies to laboratories that carry out tests for Ebola.
Ebola patients are no longer considered contagious
for a few days after the symptoms have subsided. However, the transmission
of Ebola through sperm during sex is still possible several months later.
Ebola: course of the disease
When infected with the Ebola virus, the mortality
(lethality) is high. Because the Ebola virus gradually damages the entire
body with all organs and tissues. If internal and external
bleeding has started in the so-called hemorrhagic phase, patients
do not survive this stage - the organs ultimately fail. And the few people
who recover from Ebola later have to struggle with serious consequences, for
example liver inflammation or mental disorders.
In most of the developing countries, the therapy
options are not available as in the industrialized nations. There is also
often a lack of hygienic conditions. That is also one of the reason why
the course of the Ebola disease is so often fatal. In order to avoid the
numerous deaths, the Ebola vaccination, approved in 2019, plays an important
role.
Ebola: treatment
There is currently no approved treatment that can
cure Ebola and address the cause - namely the Ebola virus. So far, doctors
can only treat the symptoms of Ebola. People with Ebola actually need
intensive medical care. However, this is rarely possible in Central
Africa, where the viral infection is predominant.
Doctors use the following measures in Ebola therapy - depending on the severity of the
disease:
- Infusions with minerals and sugar to prevent fluid and electrolyte
loss
- Painkiller
- antipyretic drugs
- Drugs that stabilize blood pressure
- Medication for diarrhea
- Anti-vomiting medication
- Blood transfusions
- Sedatives
- Antibiotics to prevent subsequent bacterial infections
Various Ebola drugs were used for study purposes
during the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), two remedies have
shown promise. If Ebola patients are treated early with the medication, 90
percent of them can be cured, according to the RKI.
Protective measures as part of Ebola treatment
Another important measure in Ebola therapy is to
contain the spread of the virus through quarantine measures. That is why
doctors generally treat Ebola patients under strict isolation. You should
have as little contact as possible with other people. Doctors and nursing
staff also wear protective suits or at least gloves and face protection to
prevent infection. Relatives have also been infected during funeral
rituals. This is why protective measures are also important when dealing
with deceased Ebola patients. @ READ MORE How to get help if you have side effects?
