Ebola virus disease

Beeching NJ, Fenech M, Houlihan CF

The bottom line

Ebola virus disease is a severe, often fatal, zoonotic infection caused by a virus of the Filoviridae family (genus Ebolavirus)
Human to human transmission occurs through contact with body fluids from infected patients. The incubation period after infection is 1-21 days and patients are not considered infectious until they develop symptoms
Initial stages of infection are non-specific, which makes the differential diagnosis broad. A history of exposure and clinical suspicion of infection should prompt isolation
Management is currently focused on supportive care and infection control. Healthcare workers should familiarise themselves with local guidance
Case fatality rates range from 30% to 90%
Because of the high likelihood of infected people travelling, all countries should have tested and practised protocols ready for screening and managing patients

BMJ

25497512

Clinical Surveillance