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Ebola hemorrhagic fever    See images

Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention

Alternative names:

Ebola virus infection; viral hemorrhagic fever

Definition:

A severe illness likely transmitted to humans from infected animals and animal materials; it causes shock and severe bleeding abnormalities.

Causes and Risks

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola fever) is a viral disease that has been limited to parts of Africa. It has been made newsworthy worldwide because of its destructive potential. The exact mode of transmission is not understood. The incubation period appears to be up to 1 week, at which time the patient develops fatigue, malaise, headache, backache, vomiting, and diarrhea. Within a week, a raised (papular) rash appears over the entire body; the rash is often hemorrhagic (contains blood). Hemorrhaging generally occurs from the gastrointestinal tract, causing the patient to bleed from both the mouth and rectum. Mortality is high, reaching 90%. Patients usually die from shock rather than blood loss.

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