Outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) was first reported in West Africa in March 2014. According to theWorld Health Organization (WHO), as of 28 Aug, there have been 3,069 EVD cases (including 1,552 deaths reported in the Western African region, including Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Logos of Nigeria.
EVD, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is caused by Ebola virus. The disease is transmitted to human through contact with blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected animals including chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelopes and porcupines. Human-to-human transmission is also possible through direct contact with blood, secretions, organ or other body fluids of infected people, and indirect contact with environmental contaminated with such fluids. Healthcare workers have frequently been infected through close contact with patients when infection control measures are not strictly practised.
The incubation period of the disease is around 2 to 21 days. Patients present with sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, followed by impaired kidney and liver function. In some severe cases, internal and external bleeding may occur. No vaccine and specific treatment is currently available. The disease has a case fatality rate of up to 90%. People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.
(HKMLT board & WHO, 28 Aug 2014; photo credit: CDC)
For more information: Ten things you really should know about Ebola (last updated: 1 Aug 2014)
For latest distribution of cases, click here.
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