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Ebola hemorrhagic fever

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Definition:

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe illness that can be transmitted to humans from infected animals and animal materials. Ebola can also be transmitted from human to human by close contact with infected bodily fluids, or through infected needles in the hospital. The virus causes severe bleeding abnormalities and shock.

Alternative Names:

Ebola virus infection; Viral hemorrhagic fever

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola fever) is a viral disease. The human form of this disease has so far been limited to parts of Africa. Four people in the United States, who were infected with a subtype of the virus (known as Ebola Reston), did not develop any signs of disease. Ebola hemorrhagic fever has been newsworthy worldwide because of its destructive potential.

Transmission can occur from contact with infected animals, humans, or contaminated needles. 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 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.

• Review Date: 3/6/2006
• Reviewed By: Monica Gandhi MD, MPH, Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, UCSF, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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