Foreign Filoviridae: Ebola

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offer technical assistance to key ports and airports in the DRC and neighboring countries.  One Health has grown to global health prevention with the rate of the global express.  The CDC works to prevent outbreaks of Ebola in the US by helping to contain the disease at its source.

From the family Filoviridae, ebolaviruses are suspected to circulate within bat populations, with humans and other animals acting as incidental hosts.  The most common source of infection to humans seems to be from handling tissues from infected non-human primates (bushmeat).  Once in a human population, the virus rapidly spreads if proper barrier protection (PPE) is not used effectively.  The virus can survive in blood and tissues, as well as on contaminated fomites.

Incubation periods range from 2 to 21 days, depending on the dose of virus and health of the individual prior to infection.  Often, initial signs present as flu-like symptoms.  As the disease progresses, signs progress to high fever, hemorrhagic signs (petechiae and ecchymoses), congested internal organs, and bronchointerstitial pneumonia.  Depletion of lymphoid tissues occurs in most cases.  A nonpruritic maculopapular rash is common.  Vomiting and diarrhea contaminate the areas surrounding the patient and serve as a source of infection to caregivers.

Proper treatment is often difficult to obtain, and supportive care remains the only option.  In these situations, case fatality can reach 90%.  Blood contains the highest amount of virus and serves as the most common route for human-to-human transmission.  The virus also exists in nearly all secretions, including saliva, tears, breast milk, semen, feces, and urine.

The good news in the battle against Ebola lies in its susceptibility to common disinfectants, including bleach, aldehydes, 3% acetic acid, ultraviolet light, and heat.