\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t <\/p>\n \tRelated story \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\tAdolescent Diabetes and Hypertension Are on the Rise. Here’s Why, and What Parents Can Do\t\t<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n<\/article>\n \t \n\tEbola is a rare but severe disease<\/a> caused by several viruses in the orthoebolaviruses family. The disease triggers a hemorrhagic fever, meaning it attacks the body\u2019s blood vessels and impacts the body\u2019s clotting abilities, often leading to extensive internal and external bleeding. <\/p>\n \n\tUnlike airborne viruses, Ebola does not spread through casual everyday contact like walking past someone in the grocery store or sitting next to an infected person on the subway. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC), Ebola can only spread through direct contact with bodily fluids from someone infected and showing symptoms. That includes direct contact with infected blood, vomit, saliva, sweat, urine, breast milk, and other fluids. <\/p>\n \n\tA person can also become infected by touching contaminated objects like bedding, clothing, or medical equipment that has infected bodily fluids on it. <\/p>\n \n\tEbola transmission is mostly seen among healthcare workers or close friends and family treating infected patients or handling contaminated materials. The bodies of people who recently passed from Ebola are often the most contagious. The virus can remain at very high levels in the body after death, which is why traditional caregiving and burial practices can sometimes accelerate outbreaks. <\/p>\n \n\tIn some affected regions, family members often wash, prepare, or physically touch the body before burial, often without protective equipment. The close contact with infected people, combined with a lack of knowledge about how the disease acts and spreads, often accelerates outbreaks in these regions.<\/p>\n \n\tMany outbreak regions face limited access to healthcare, shortages of protective medical supplies, underfunded hospitals, and gaps in public health education and training. In remote areas, it can take longer to identify cases, isolate sick patients, trace contacts, acquire medical supplies, and share accurate health information with communities.<\/p>\n \n\tIn the U.S., hospitals have strict infection-control protocols, trained medical staff, isolation units, and highly effective disease surveillance systems that help slow, and oftentimes prevent, the rapid spread often seen in more isolated regions of the world.<\/p>\n \n\tThe current outbreak is tied to the rare Bundibugyo strain<\/a>, first identified in 2007. This is only the third known outbreak involving this strain. <\/p>\n \n\tOne challenge is that there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments specifically designed for the Bundibugyo virus strain. Health officials are relying on rapid isolation, contact tracing, testing, and supportive hospital care to contain the spread.<\/p>\n \n\tThe World Health Organization says the outbreak does not currently meet the criteria for a pandemic emergency.<\/p>\n \n\tMost cases have been identified in northeastern DRC, particularly in the Ituri province. Uganda also has confirmed cases, including one death in Kampala. <\/p>\n \n\tHealth officials are especially concerned because some infected people traveled between countries before being diagnosed, which raises the possibility of additional regional spread. <\/p>\n \n\tThe CDC also confirmed that an American doctor<\/a> working in the DRC tested positive for Ebola, while several other Americans were exposed and are being transported to Germany for monitoring and treatment. <\/p>\n \n\tAt this point, experts say most Americans do not need to worry or change their daily routines. <\/p>\n \n\tThe CDC has also repeatedly stated<\/a> that the risk to the United States remains low. Ebola is much harder to spread than respiratory illnesses like COVID or the flu because it requires direct exposure to infected bodily fluids. <\/p>\n \n\tThe U.S. has also already implemented additional travel precautions, including temporary restrictions for certain non-U.S. travelers coming from affected regions. <\/p>\n \n\tFor the average American family, this is definitely more of a \u201cstay informed\u201d situation than a \u201cstock up and stay home\u201d situation. <\/p>\n \n\tSymptoms of Ebola<\/a> can appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure and often begin like many common illnesses.<\/p>\n \n\tEarly symptoms can include: <\/p>\n \n\tAs the illness progresses, symptoms may include: <\/p>\n \n\tThat said, unless someone has recently traveled to an affected area or had direct exposure to an infected person, these symptoms are far more likely to be linked to something much more common, like allergies or a simple cold. <\/p>\n \n\tEbola can be extremely serious. Fatality rates in past outbreaks have ranged widely, from about 25% to 90%, depending on the strain and access to medical care and information. Historically, the Zaire strain<\/a> has been the most deadly, with fatality rates reaching 90% when symptoms are left untreated. <\/p>\n \n\tFor the current Bundibugyo strain, experts estimate the fatality rate to be between 25% and 40%. <\/p>\n \n\tCurrently, there is no universal cure for Ebola. The FDA<\/a> has approved specific monoclonal antibody treatments (Inmazeb and Ebanga) for the Zaire strain of the virus. For other strains and most general cases, treatment and management of infected patients rely entirely on supportive care, such as fluid replacement.<\/p>\n \n\tThe CDC says it is coordinating with airlines, border officials, and international health agencies to monitor travelers who have been exposed. <\/p>\n \n\tAdditional safety<\/a> measures include: <\/p>\n![\"Teen](\"https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/wp-content\/themes\/vip\/pmc-sheknows-2020\/assets\/public\/lazyload-fallback.gif\")
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\n<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/section>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\tWhat Is Ebola?\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tHow Does Ebola Spread Among Humans? \t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tWhat\u2019s Different About This Outbreak? \t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tWhere Is the Current Ebola Outbreak Happening? \t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tShould Families In the U.S. Be Worried? \t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tWhat Are the Symptoms of Ebola?\t<\/h2>\n
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\n\t\tHow Deadly Is Ebola? \t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tIs There a Cure?\t<\/h2>\n
\n\t\tWhat Is the U.S. Doing to Prevent Spread?\t<\/h2>\n
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