What are the long-term consequences of Ebola virus infection? | What is the Ebola virus?

What are the long-term consequences of Ebola virus infection?

The consequences of the disease depend on the stage at which the therapy could be started and how bad the course of the disease was for the patent. From almost complete regeneration to limited organ functions, everything is possible. The advantage of a past Ebola infection is that after the disease has passed, the person has antibodies that protect him/her against a renewed infection with an Ebola subtype, so that there is no risk of contracting the same Ebola hemorrhagic fever again.

What is the probability of survival?

The probability of survival in the event of an Ebola infection depends on several factors. In the previous outbreak areas, however, it never exceeded 50%. Factors that can improve the probability are a good immune system of the infected person, a diagnosis as early as possible, as well as good medical care and treatment of the infected person. An epidemic in western countries would be associated with an estimated survival probability of over 50%. In patients who were able to benefit from the best possible medical care and early therapeutic measures, the outbreak in 2014 even managed to reduce the mortality rate to about 35%.

Ebola vaccination

A concrete vaccination against Ebola is currently not available in Germany. Only an immunization against the yellow fever virus is approved. Further vaccines are currently still in the development or testing phase. Since a vaccination does not exist at present, it is necessary for persons with appropriate symptoms to seek medical help as soon as possible and to have themselves quarantined in order to prevent the virus from spreading. People who have been in contact with the infected person should also be kept under observation.

In which countries has Ebola broken out?

The Ebola outbreaks are so far mainly confined to Central Africa and an outbreak in Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa in 1994. In Central Africa, the first known outbreak occurred in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo and at the same time in Sudan, which lies northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo. In addition, outbreaks of Ebola epidemics occurred in Gabon, Uganda, Kenya and Angola. The most recent outbreak in 2014 also occurred on the west coast of Africa in the border triangle between Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.