Three West Africa nations are struggling to control an outbreak of
Ebola. The virus was first discovered nearly four decades ago in Congo in a
village near the Ebola River. Since then there have been sporadic outbreaks.
Five things
to know about Ebola and how it is spread:
1. WEST
AFRICA OUTBREAK NOW LARGEST IN HISTORY. The current outbreak in the neighboring
countries of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone has sickened more than 1,300
people and killed at least 729 since March. The outbreak is unusual for West
Africa as the disease is typically found in the center and east of the
continent.
2. SOME
PEOPLE HAVE SURVIVED EBOLA. While the fatality rate for Ebola can be as high as
90 percent, health officials in the three countries say people have recovered
from the virus and the current death rate is about 60 percent. Those who fared
best sought immediate medical attention and got supportive care to prevent
dehydration even though there is no specific treatment for Ebola itself.
3. EBOLA CAN
LOOK LIKE OTHER DISEASES. The early symptoms of an Ebola infection include
fever, headache, muscle aches and sore throat. It can be difficult to
distinguish between Ebola and malaria, typhoid fever or cholera. Only in later
stages do people with Ebola begin bleeding both internally and externally,
often through the nose and ears.
4. EBOLA IS
ONLY SPREAD THROUGH CLOSE CONTACT. The Ebola virus is not airborne, so people
would have to come into direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected
person. These include blood, sweat, vomit, feces, urine, saliva or semen —
making transmission through casual contact in a public setting unlikely.
5. FEAR AND
MISINFORMATION. In the three countries, health workers and clinics have come
under attack from panicked residents who mistakenly blame foreign doctors and
nurses for bringing the virus to remote communities. Family members also have
removed sick Ebola patients from hospitals. Government officials have stepped
up efforts to isolate patients, educate the public, check travelers and tighten
borders to prevent the disease's spread.
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