What is Ebola virus disease? Ebola virus disease (formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a severe, often fatal illness, with a death rate of up to 90%. The illness affects humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). How do people become infected with the virus? Majority of cases in humans have occurred as a result of human-to-human transmission. Infection occurs from direct contact through broken skin or mucous membranes with the blood, or other bodily fluids or secretions (stool, urine, saliva, semen) of infected people. Infection can also occur if broken skin or mucous membranes of a healthy person come into contact with environments that have become contaminated with an Ebola patient’s infectious fluids such as soiled clothing, bed linen, or used needles. Health care workers can get infected when personal protection equipment and proper infection prevention and control measures were not followed while caring for patients. Ebola victims should receive treatment in centres where health care professionals are qualified and equipped to manage ebola infected patients. Transmission of the virus occurred during burial ceremonies where mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person. Persons who have died of Ebola must be handled using protective clothing and gloves and must be buried immediately. People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. For this reason, infected patients receive close monitoring from medical professionals and receive laboratory tests to ensure the virus is no longer circulating in their systems before they return home. Men who have recovered from the illness can still spread the virus to their partner through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery. For this reason, it is important for men to avoid sexual intercourse for at least 7 weeks after recovery or to wear condoms if having sexual intercourse during 7 weeks after recovery. Generally, a person must come into contact with an animal that has Ebola and it can then spread within the community from human to human. What are typical signs and symptoms of infection? The incubation period, or the time interval from infection to onset of symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days. After the incubation period persons infected with Ebola develop sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat are typical signs and symptoms. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. The patient becomes contagious once they begin to show symptoms. They are not contagious during the incubation period. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts, and elevated liver enzymes. Ebola virus disease infections can only be confirmed through laboratory testing. When should someone seek medical care? If a person has been in an area known to have Ebola virus disease or in contact with a person known or suspected to have Ebola and they begin to have symptoms, they should seek medical care immediately. Any cases of persons who are suspected to have the disease should be reported to the nearest health unit without delay. Prompt medical care is essential to improving the rate of survival from the disease. It is also important to control spread of the disease and infection control procedures need to be started immediately. What is the treatment? Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. They are frequently dehydrated and need intravenous fluids or oral rehydration with solutions that contain electrolytes. There is currently no specific treatment to cure the disease. Some patients will recover with the appropriate medical care. What can I do? Can it be prevented? Is there a vaccine? Currently, there is no licensed medicine or vaccine for Ebola virus disease, but several products are under development. If you suspect someone close to you or in your community of having Ebola virus disease, immediately encourage and support them in seeking appropriate medical treatment in a healthcare facility. When visiting patients in the hospital or caring for someone at home, hand washing with soap and water is recommended after touching a patient, being in contact with their bodily fluids, or touching his/her surroundings. People who have died from Ebola should only be handled using appropriate protective equipment and should be buried immediately by public health professionals who are trained in safe burial procedures. Additionally, individuals should reduce contact with high‐risk infected animals.