Talk:2014 Ebola virus cases in the United States/sandbox

Description
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a lethal viral hemorrhagic disease. The disease occurs primarily in Africa, where sporadic outbreaks have been documented since 1976, with the most recent outbreak occurring in West Africa in 2014. It is considered a Level 4 biohazard disease by the CDC due to its high fatality rate. There is currently no cure or vaccine, with over 50% of infected persons eventually dying.

Causes and transmission
Infection is caused by one of four strains of the Ebola virus from the viral family Filoviridae. Transmission is primarily by contact with blood, bodily fluids, or tissues of infected individuals or infected animals.

Signs and symptoms
Early symptoms of Ebola can include the sudden onset of fatigue, fever, headache, sore throat, weakness, and muscle pain. Those symptoms are often followed by vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and stomach pain. Other symptoms include red eyes, rash, jaundice, and internal and external bleeding. The average time between contracting the infection and the start of symptoms (incubation period) is 8 to 10 days, but can vary between 2 and 21 days.

Diagnosis
Experienced medical personnel would perform blood tests to check for the virus or for antibodies. They will also document a travel and work history. If Ebola infection is suspected, medical isolation or quarantine is important pending a final diagnosis.

Treatment
As there is currently no cure or vaccine for ebola, current treatment is limited to giving supportive care, which includes administering intravenous fluids and electrolytes to maintain hydration and blood pressure. Medications for nausea, fever and muscle aches are also given. Oxygen is administered if necessary and any secondary infections are also treated. When possible, medical isolation of infected persons is required during treatment.

Prevention
The primary prevention methods include wearing personal protective equipment, such as masks, gloves, liquid-proof gowns, and goggles, when near persons suspected of being infected. Disposal of potentially contaminated medical equipment, especially needles and syringes, along with careful disposal of clothing, bedding and any potentially contaminated items, is also necessary. Medical isolation or quarantine is generally required for persons suspected of being infected to prevent them from transmitting the disease to others.

Epidemiology
The first known outbreak of Ebola took place in Sudan in 1976, where over 280 people became infected with a 50% mortality rate. Prior to the 2014 outbreak in West Africa, there have been 1,850 documented infections, of which over 1,200 people have died. WHO estimates that the overall mortality rate is 50%. As of October 1, 2014, for the 2014 outbreak in West Africa, WHO and the CDC have reported a total of 7,492 suspected cases and 3,439 deaths. There is one confirmed case in the United States.