Adventure Doc
keeping you healthy for life's adventures
Erik McLaughlin MD, MPH
Affiliates
EBOLA FEVER
Basics:
Acute viral illness of the Filoviradiae family. 3 sub-groups of Ebola exist (Cote D’Ivoir, Sudan and Zaire). A fourth type (Reston) is fatal in primates yet a symptomatic in humans. Symptoms include sudden onset of fever, myalgia (muscle aches), vomiting and diarrhea, sore throat and petechial (pin point) rash. Case fatality rate ranges from 50% to 90%.
Location:
Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa
Transmission/ Incubation:
Unknown reservoir at present, there is a link with dead primate carcasses found in forests. Transmission is believe to be based on handling or manipulating dead mammal carcasses in the rainforests of Central Africa. Frequent nosocomial spread (within a hospital). Incubation is approximately 7-21 days
Prevention:
Avoid handling mammal carcasses found in central African rainforests.
Diagnosis:
ELISA for IgM or IgG only in Level 4 Biohazard containment
Treatment:
There is no know treatment and no vaccine
PRODUCT REVIEWS
Ebola Virus
Ebola-Ziare CDC photo of nurses tending to patient
