Ebola virus disease
Classification and external resources
Two nurses standing near Mayinga N'Seka, a nurse with Ebola virus disease in the 1976 outbreak in Zaire. N'Seka died a few days later.
ICD-10
A98.4
ICD-9
065.8
DiseasesDB
18043
MedlinePlus
001339
eMedicine
med/626
MeSH
D019142
Ebola virus disease (EVD; also Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF)) or simply Ebola is a disease of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses. Signs and symptoms typically start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus, with a fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches. Then, vomiting, diarrhea and rash usually follows, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. At this time, generally, some people begin to bleed both internally and externally.[1] Death, if it occurs, is typically six to sixteen days after symptoms appear and is often due to low blood pressure from fluid loss.[2]
The virus is acquired by contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected human or other animal.[1] This may also occur by direct contact with a recently contaminated item.[1] Spread through the air has not been documented in the natural environment.[3] Fruit bats are believed to be the normal carrier in nature, able to spread the virus without being affected. Humans b