Prevention of fever Ebola. Ebola fever: symptoms, treatment

The most terrible pandemic of the 21st century was the Ebola fever raging on the African continent. A deadly disease in just one year has claimed the lives of more than seven thousand people. At this point, a truly proven medicine for this ailment does not exist. How is the prevention of Ebola fever all over the world? How to recognize the most dangerous virus and protect yourself and your loved ones from its terrible impact? We will try to find the answers to these questions.

What is a virus?

Disease Ebola is one of the most dangerous for human life in our time. A powerful virus that affects humans, monkeys and a number of small mammals is almost invulnerable to treatment. Its destructive effect is transmitted to all parts of the body, from the internal organs, ending with the skin and the brain of man. The death process begins with the fact that the blood becomes more viscous, the formation of clots begins, which clog the capillaries throughout the body. The result of all this is the necrosis of cells and the decomposition of organs. On the skin, cracks form, from which the blood oozes, the insides decompose, paralysis occurs, and in the worst case, death.

Varieties of the virus and their brief characteristics

The official name of the disease is Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Infection occurs under the influence of an infection belonging to the group of filoviruses. The main features of GML are high mortality, rapidity of spread, as well as severe course of the disease. There is a fairly simple answer to the question of how Ebola is manifested. Even during a person's life, the virus leads to the fact that his organs die and begin to decompose.

Disease Ebola is divided into five main varieties, each of which has certain features. So, it is customary to allocate:

• The Zaire type. It was first recorded in 1976 in the same-named locality (Zaire, the Ebola River), which gave it its name, and also gave the name to the fever itself. This type of disease is considered the main and most severe. This statement was fully confirmed by the epidemic, which began in 2013.
• The Sudanese type. It is less dangerous, however, the mortality from it is still at a very high level. The first time was marked in Sudan. The name also received the disease on the basis of geography.
• Cote d'Ivoire, or Tai-Forest, type. The epidemics of this species in official medicine were not recorded. The disease was discovered in 2004, she fell ill with a research associate of one of the organizations conducting a study of the corpses of chimpanzees. This type is considered the easiest.
• Bundibugyo, or Bundibugyo, type. The disease was recorded in Uganda in 2007. The outbreak of the virus was quite small, however, without human sacrifices, it did not.

In a separate category, we can distinguish the Restina subtype of Ebola. This form differs from all the above mentioned in that it is absolutely not dangerous for people, only monkeys suffer from it. However, it should be noted that studies on the spread of the disease were carried out only in relation to fully healthy males. In this regard, science does not have exact data on how the infection will develop with weakened human immunity.

The occurrence of a viral infection

The most common is Ebola in Africa. In all cases, the first outbreaks of disease were noted on this continent. The virus most often rages in countries located in the immediate vicinity of the equator. A few cases of fever have been noted in a number of states that are far from Africa (USA, Germany). However, it is assumed that the disease was introduced into them by people from outside. In due time diseases began in such states as Congo, Sudan, Ugadan, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone.

Methods of spreading fever

How does the Ebola virus spread? Infection often occurs as a result of exposure to excreta (urine, feces, sperm, sweat) or the blood of a sick person or animal (not only living, but also dead). Infection is also transmitted with unprotected intercourse. It is necessary to be afraid of common household items (for example, bed linen), blood transfusions, the use of non-disposable syringes. In very rare cases, infection is possible by airborne injection (inhalation of a part of the sputum infected). Ebola in Africa is often transmitted during ritual funeral rites, during which relatives touch the corpse. Doing this kind of action is strongly discouraged.

These methods of spreading the infection are mostly secondary. To determine the original cause of the onset of the disease to date is not possible. According to one of the most popular versions, for the first time the virus was detected in winged fishes ("flying dogs"). It is also believed that the main carriers can be small rodents living in close proximity to human habitation. You can also get infected by contact with the skin of a dead animal. Perhaps most of the fevers began this way (hunters groaned dead bodies of dead animals).

A new outbreak of disease

The outbreak of Ebola in 2014 became the most powerful of all known manifestations of the disease. To date, more than 7,000 people have died. In 1976, the world first learned about a phenomenon such as Ebola fever. Treatment, prevention and protection measures were not known at that time, therefore almost 40 years ago, the virus killed 280 people (38 people recovered from the disease).

The first to fall ill with the new epidemic appeared in December 2013 in Guinea. Later the virus swept Nigeria, Liberia and a number of other countries. Medical staff from international organizations that provide assistance to patients in the field are in a significant risk area. Many of them became ill and were taken to their homeland for treatment. This situation provoked a real panic around the globe.

How does the struggle against this dangerous disease take place today? How to stop its distribution? Ebola, like any other acute viral infection with the possibility of a lethal outcome, requires clear, organizational measures from the state authorities and medical personnel. So, first of all, it is carried out:

• Hospitalization of the patient in special boxes (protective measures can be compared with those used in the plague);
• Marking of household items and treatment of an infected person, their constant disinfection and separate storage, and subsequently destruction;
• Disposal of items in contact with the patient, by treatment with a solution of phenol, and then burning;
• Isolation of persons who are possible vectors of infection, on the same grounds as patients.

Characteristic signs of the worst fever

What are the signs of Ebola? Symptoms of the disease are quite simple, although at first fever can be confused with a classic respiratory disease (ARVI) or angina. At the outset, patients note the following changes in health status:

• Severe headache;
• General weakness of muscles;
• Thread in the throat;
• Elevated body temperature (38 degrees and above);
• Stool disorder.

With time, after 2-3 days, the virus progresses, and a person begins to overcome a dry cough, a rash (there appear points throughout the body of red or crimson), there are unpleasant sensations in the chest.

The second and often last week of the course of the disease is characterized by the most severe condition. There is a defeat of the brain, internal organs and epidermis, bleeding gums, liver, spleen and cracks on the skin. Internal organs begin to decompose even during a person's life. In most cases, the disease ends in a lethal outcome 10-14 days after its onset.

Symptoms of Ebola, on which the disease is diagnosed by doctors

For the average person, it is enough to know the external signs of Ebola. Symptoms that will be required for a specialist for accurate diagnosis are identified only through special tests and tests. The general specific assumptions are:

• Short incubation period, rapid development of the disease;
• Impaired blood clotting;
• Global intoxication and dehydration;
• Increase in the level of leukocytes in the blood;
• Decrease in platelet count and hemoglobin.

There are many special laboratory tests that can detect the Ebola virus. Symptoms of an external nature can be deceptive and result from fever-like illnesses, for example Marburg disease. The most frequently used for accurate diagnosis is a test for the detection of antigens.

Little-known facts

Modern mass media provide a rather detailed coverage of such a disease as Ebola fever. Symptoms, prevention and precautions are known to almost all people living in a possible risk zone. Unfortunately, many facts about the disease are still unknown to a wide range of people. They include the following data:

• The virus affects all people without exception, however, children suffer much less often. Scientists can not explain this trend until now;
• The incubation period is usually equal to the interval of 4 to 7 days, however, in some cases it can reach 3 weeks;
• People who had recovered from Ebola were discharged for 21 days;
• There are cases when one and the same person could be infected with a viral infection several times;
• There are people who have antibodies to fever. This means that they can tolerate the disease in mild form and be the carrier of the infection.
• The virus of fever persists in the sperm of the recovered male to 7 weeks;
• The Ebola virus has only been studied by scientists in half, some of its protein molecules remain a mystery to mankind;
• Ebola fever is much more terrible than AIDS, it destroys the human immune system not in 10 years, but in two weeks;
• The virus is quite resistant to high temperatures, dies in the blood while maintaining the index from 60 degrees for a minimum of 30 minutes;
• Even the strong cold can easily tolerate the virus;
• Deficiency of folic acid and poor nutrition increase the possible risk of infection.

Basic preventive measures of protection

If you live in a risk zone or have direct contact with citizens who have visited the territories where this virus rages, the following rules should be adhered to. So, the prevention of Ebola fever is reduced to such simple measures as:

• Regular sterilization of premises, household items, equipment;
• Wearing a protective clothing set that excludes contact with infected people;
• Complete exclusion of any contacts with the carriers of the virus.

The only way to prevent the spread of the disease is to quickly identify and completely isolate the sick people. If you do not live in a risk zone, try not to panic, exclude possible trips to countries where the epidemic is raging, and refuse to contact with citizens of these countries.

Persons working in African countries need to know how Ebola is manifested, and in case of contact with infected people, provide their protection by wearing a special suit and mask. This will help minimize the risk of infection.

The spread of Ebola occurs spontaneously, and in some cases, a person simply does not have the opportunity to conduct pre-training. Significantly reduce the risk of disease can and such measures as:

• Restriction of contact with animals, which may be potential carriers of the virus;
• Exclude interaction with the decomposing corpses of animals;
• Carefully wash with soap open areas of the body, hands and face after walking down the street or visiting a public institution (especially a hospital);
• Using food of animal origin, subject them to initial heat treatment.

Methods of treating fever

To date, the prevention of Ebola fever is the only real measure of protection against this most dangerous disease. There is no special treatment as such. It is under development and has not passed all necessary medical checks. Experimental methods are used nowadays in European countries and in the territory of the United States, however, they can not ensure a 100% recovery of the sick. In addition, the vaccine against fever has not been developed yet.

What is now treated Ebola? Symptoms of the disease must necessarily be eliminated. Since there is no special treatment, it is necessary to be guided by the situation. An intensive person, intensive restoration of blood and fluid loss (electrolyte preparations) is vitally necessary for a sick person. The fatal outcome of the disease is largely determined by the individual structure of the organism. It is generally believed that the person who has undergone Ebola receives the strongest immunity for life, however, there are also cases of re-infection.

Prevention of Ebola fever is the only possibility for today to stop the deadly disease. Everyone should think about personal protection measures for themselves and their loved ones. Remember that a dangerous disease in most cases ends in a lethal outcome, develops very quickly and is characterized by a severe course. What else is necessary to know about such a dangerous disease as Ebola fever. Symptoms, prevention, treatment, all this, of course, is extremely important, however, the main measure of protection for the population is quarantine.