Symptoms of ebola virus infection are generally noted between 2 -21 days after the virus enters the body.

Early noticeable symptoms include sudden onset of:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Joint and muscle pain
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Cough

Symptoms noted with disease progression include:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Rash
• Unexplained bruising
• Internal and external bleeding such as bleeding from gums and blood in stools
• Weight loss

Ebola virus is primarily found in wild animals, particularly fruit bats. It can infect monkeys and porcupines. It can spread from animals or human to human. In humans, the Ebola virus spreads by direct contact with:

• Bodily fluids (blood, secretions, saliva, sweat, urine, semen) from the infected person
• Feces or vomit from the infected person
• Organs of infected people
• Contaminated surfaces
• Breast milk
• Sexual contact
• Transmission of the virus can also be through eyes, nose, mouth and broken skin

Risk factors include:

• Exposure to infected objects, such as needles
• Interaction with infected animals
• Working in medical or personal care
• Traveling to areas where a recent outbreak has occurred
• Working in/attending burial services

• Avoid traveling to places with suspected cases of outbreaks.
• Get your blood and semen tested at regular intervals.
• Abstain from all kinds of sex with an infected person.
• Practice good personal hygiene, especially after visiting a patient.
• Handle infected animals with the utmost care, using gloves.
• Cook animal products thoroughly before consuming.
• Handle dead, infected person’s body carefully to avoid direct contact with the fluid or skin.
• Healthcare and laboratory workers should take maximum prescribed precautions when handling the patient or samples.