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Ebola virus disease

Morbus Ebola (febris haemorrhagica) · Ebola

What it is

A filovirus from bats spread by body fluids, causing fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and sometimes bleeding; the commonest (Zaire) strain is now treatable with antibodies and preventable by vaccine.

Symptoms & signs

  • Sudden fever, weakness and headache
  • vomiting and diarrhoea
  • rash
  • bleeding in some
  • shock

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Fever within 3 weeks of contact with an Ebola patient or outbreak area — call ahead first
  • call 112 / 911 now Bleeding, vomiting blood or black stools
  • call 112 / 911 now Fainting, cold skin or very little urine after vomiting and diarrhoea

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • PCR test and strict isolation
  • intensive fluid and electrolyte care
  • monoclonal antibodies (ansuvimab, or the three-antibody Inmazeb) — about 1 in 3 died against 1 in 2 on ZMapp (PALM trial)
  • ring vaccination (Ervebo) of contacts

Natural & lifestyle

  • Avoid contact with the sick and the dead
  • no bushmeat

Emerging & experimental

  • Oral antivirals
  • vaccines against the Sudan virus

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Nano-silver drinks — promoted during outbreaks; no effect not confirmed in trials
  • Bitter kola and herbal remedies — traditional; untested anecdotal / traditional
  • Convalescent plasma — tested in Guinea (2015): no clear benefit not confirmed in trials

ICD codes