Ebola virus disease, or Ebola for short, is a contagious illness that is native to Africa.
It belongs to a family of viruses known as filoviruses (Filoviridae).
Humans contract Ebola from infected animals.
After the initial transmission, the virus can be passed on through contact with body fluids.
Since Ebola was discovered in 1976, several outbreaks have occurred, primarily in Africa.
Reston is the only strain that doesnt cause severe disease in humans.
Bats carrying the virus may transfer it to other animals (such as apes and monkeys).
Human beings can contract Ebola through close contact with an infected animal.
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Healthcare workers who treat Ebola can be infected if they come in close contact with patients.
Another is handling or eating bushmeat wild animals hunted for food in areas where Ebola is common.
Some studies have shown that Ebola has been detected in dogs and cats that live in affected areas.
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Risk Factors
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How Is Ebola Diagnosed?
Additionally, the patient should be isolated and given a blood test.
Receiving prompt supportive treatment is one way to improve your chances of surviving the virus.
And it can live for up to several days at room temperature in body fluids.
Controlling Outbreaks
Since the first case of Ebola, various outbreaks have occurred.
Spotting cases of Ebola early on may be the key to stopping outbreaks.
Contact tracing is one tactic that experts use to identify people who have been exposed to someone with Ebola.
It involves tracking down everyone who has come in direct contact with the sick person.
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Ebola isnt currently considered a threat for people who dont live in sub-Saharan Africa.
But anyone can become infected with the virus.
She is board-certified in both internal medicine and infectious diseases.
She also teaches medical trainees and lectures medical students at the Emory University School of Medicine.
Her goal is to compose helpful articles that readers can easily understand and use to improve their well-being.
She is passionate about healthy living and delivering important medical information through her writing.
Prior to her freelance career, Marks was a supervising producer of medical programming for Ivanhoe Broadcast News.
She is a Telly award winner and Freddie award finalist.
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