Alerta sanitaria internacionalel nuevo reto de la enfermedad por el virus del Ébola

Laburpena

Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a disease of humans and other primates caused by one type of ebolavirus, family Filoviridae: Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo Côte d'Ivoire (Taï Forest virus) and Reston virus. The disease has a high risk of death, killing between 25% and 90% of the patients. During 2014, to October 8, 8,033 suspected cases and 3,865 deaths had been reported. So far, the disease is not under control. The virus may be acquired upon contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected human or other animal and with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids. Symptoms start 2 days to 21 days after contracting the virus, with a fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headaches. Typically, vomiting, diarrhea, and rash follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. Around this time, affected people may begin to bleed both within the body and externally. Outbreak control requires community engagement, case management, surveillance and contact tracing, appropriate laboratory service, and proper disposal of remains through cremation or burial. No specific treatment for the disease is yet available. In laboratories where virus culture is carried out, biosafety level 4-equivalent containment is required. Quarantine (also known as enforced isolation) and contact tracing are regarded as important to contain an outbreak.