Ebola

Ebola illness begins with flu-like symptoms, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea up to 10 days after contact with the virus. Bleeding will then occur through the mouth, nose and eyes. An infected person may also develop a rash on the chest, back and stomach. Following a diagnosis of Ebola, infected people are at risk of internal bleeding, critically low blood pressure, damage to multiple organs, and, in some cases, death.

Stringent use of personal protective equipment is paramount when you are in an at-risk area. Regularly wash your hands with soap, avoid touching your mouth, nose and eyes, and avoid direct exposure to the blood or bodily fluids of an infected person or animal (both alive and dead). A vaccine has recently been developed for the Ebola Zaire virus and it has been used with success in recent outbreaks. Others are in the pipeline for the Sudan ebolavirus.

Travellers do not usually visit areas at risk of Ebola; however, this disease may be suspected in anyone with a haemorrhagic illness and fever who has recently visited Africa. There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Ebola, so avoiding travel to areas where Ebola is known to be occurring is paramount. Dehydration is a common result of contracting Ebola, so fluids should be increased orally or intravenously. It is paramount to survival that all confirmed cases of Ebola be treated in isolation in intensive care.