Ebola Virus Infection
Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body.
As
the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and
organs. Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop.
This leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding.
Medically
known as food-borne illness or food-borne disease, you probably know
food poisoning as miserable -- whatever it's called.
It occurs when you eat or drink something contaminated with any number
of disease-causing bacteria, viruses, or parasites. And it can result in
diarrhea, vomiting, and fever, which can be serious if prolonged, and
can lead to dehydration.
Most people rarely get sick from contaminated foods because their immune
systems are strong enough to protect them. But when harmful...
The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus, kills up to 90% of people who are infected.
Could There Be an Outbreak in the U.S.?
Although
movies and books describe major outbreaks of Ebola-like disease in the
U.S., they're just fiction. So far serious Ebola cases have only shown
up in Central and West Africa.
The
CDC says there’s no significant risk of Ebola in the United States. It
has strong safety measures in place for people who have Ebola and are
brought to the U.S. for treatment.
Ebola can spread
from country to country when people travel. So it is possible for it to
reach the U.S. if an infected person travels here. But there are ways to
prevent people from coming to U.S. airports with the disease.
Airline
crews are trained to spot the symptoms of Ebola in passengers flying
from places where the virus is found. Crews are told to quarantine
anyone who looks infected.
How Do You Get Ebola?
Ebola isn’t as contagious as more common viruses like colds, influenza, or measles. It spreads to people by contact with the skin
or bodily fluids of an infected animal, like a monkey, chimp, or fruit
bat. Then it moves from person to person the same way. Those who care
for a sick person or bury someone who has died from the disease often
get it.
Other ways to get Ebola include touching contaminated needles or surfaces.
You can’t get Ebola from air, water, or food. A person who has Ebola but has no symptoms can’t spread the disease, either.
What Are the Symptoms of Ebola?
Early on, Ebola can feel like the flu or other illnesses. Symptoms show up 2 to 21 days after infection and usually include:
- High fever
- Headache
- Joint and muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Weakness
- Stomach pain
- Lack of appetite
As the disease gets worse, it causes bleeding inside the body, as well as from the eyes, ears, and nose. Some people will vomit or cough up blood, have bloody diarrhea, and get a rash.
How Is Ebola Diagnosed?
Sometimes it's hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone. Doctors may test to rule out other diseases like cholera or malaria.
Tests of blood and tissues also can diagnose Ebola.
If you have Ebola, you’ll be isolated from the public immediately to prevent the spread.
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