Ebola

The Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in Congo. But what exactly is Ebola and can we also get it in Belgium?

The disease starts about 1 week after infection with fever, sore throat and muscle pain. But soon the complaints become more serious with severe headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Severe bleeding is also typical. In the second week of the disease either improvement occurs or the condition will become more severe and the patient may go into shock.

Normally the infection is transmitted through body fluids such as blood, saliva and vomit. The disease sometimes only occurs 3 weeks after infection. The infection is only transmitted by patients who have symptoms.

In Belgium you can only get Ebola after contact with people who contracted the disease in Liberia, Guinea or Sierra Leone. The chance of an epidemic in Belgium is virtually non-existent because our health facilities can immediately contain an outbreak through better hygienic measures.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024