Download The Ebola virus disease (EVD)

Frequently asked questions on Ebola virus disease (EVD)
Disease information
1. What is EVD?
The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a death rate of up to
90%. Patients may have fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat,
vomiting, diarrhoea, rash or bleeding within 21 days after getting the infection.
Transmission
2. How is EVD transmitted?
Ebola virus is introduced into the human population through close contact with the
blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected animals. It then spreads in
the community through human-to-human transmission, with infection resulting from
direct contact, either through broken skin or mucous membranes (e.g. eyes, nose and
mouth), with the blood, secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected people,
and indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.
3. What body fluids can transmit EVD?
Body fluids of an infected EVD patient like blood, vomitus, urine, faeces, sweat,
semen, saliva, etc. can transmit the disease.
4. Can EVD be transmitted through the air?
No. EVD is not a respiratory disease like influenza or tuberculosis, so it is not
transmitted through the air.
5. Can I get EVD from food or water?
No. EVD is not a food-borne illness, nor a water-borne illness. However, food must
be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
6. Can I get infection from an infected person who does not have any symptoms?
No. Patients become contagious once they begin to show symptoms. In order for the
virus to be transmitted, an individual would have to have direct contact with blood,
secretions, organs or other body fluids of infected person who is experiencing
symptoms or indirect contact with environments contaminated by with such fluids.
7. Will I get infected from someone through social contact like shaking hands or hugging?
If a person does not have symptoms, he or she is not infectious and thus will not
spread EVD through social contact. However, a patient may spread the disease to
others when they have symptoms. If you have broken skin or your mucous
membranes (e.g. eyes, nose and mouth) come into contact with the blood, other
body fluids or secretions of the infected person, you may get infected.
8. Is air travel safe?
The risk of EVD transmission on airplanes is low. Unlike infections such as influenza
or tuberculosis, EVD is not airborne. It can only be transmitted by direct contact with
the body fluids of a person who is sick with the disease. Usually when someone is
sick with EVD, they are so unwell that they cannot travel. On the small chance that
someone on the plane is sick with EVD, the likelihood of other passengers and crew
having contact with their body fluids is even smaller.
9. Is it safe to eat meat from wild animals?
Some fruit bats are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus, and in Africa,
infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees,
gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead in the
rainforest. Members of the public are advised not to eat meat from wild animals
(bush meat), meat of unknown origin or other related food products. Besides, food
must be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
10. If someone recovers from EVD, can he or she still spread the disease?
Once someone recovers from EVD and their blood and secretions do not contain the
virus anymore, they can no longer spread the virus. However, according to WHO,
men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their
semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.
Prevention
11. How is EVD prevented?
There is no licensed vaccine to prevent EVD. You should avoid unnecessary travel to
areas affected by EVD; observe good hand hygiene, always remember to use liquid
soap or alcohol-based hand rub to clean your hands before touching the eyes, nose
and mouth; wound should be properly disinfected and covered. Avoid close contact
with feverish or ill persons, and avoid contact with blood or body fluids of patients,
including contaminated objects. Avoid contact with animals.
Management
12. What should I do if I suspect myself to get infected?
If you develop symptoms of EVD within 21 days of returning from affected areas,
please call 999 and inform the staff about your condition (including your symptoms
and your recent travel history) to arrange consultation in Accident and Emergency
Department.
13. What is the treatment?
There is currently no specific treatment for the disease. Severely ill patients require
intensive supportive care in a hospital. Some patients will recover with appropriate
supportive care.
September 2014