How is the Ebola virus transmitted? The Ebola virus has several times swept over on a large scale, causing anxiety due to its high infection rate and mortality rate. So, how is the Ebola virus transmitted? What are the symptoms of infection with the Ebola virus? Let’s find out together below.

How is the Ebola virus transmitted?

According to current research, it is very likely that the Ebola virus is transmitted to humans through contact with animals. The main modes of transmission between humans include three:

1. Contact transmission. Direct contact with the blood, urine, blood, feces, secretions, excrement, and other body fluids of an infected person or animal may lead to infection with the Ebola virus. The Ebola virus can survive in the bodies of deceased patients for several days, and contact with the bodies and blood of deceased patients can also lead to infection.

2. Injection transmission. In 1976, the hospital in Zaire only provided 5 syringes to the clinic each morning, and they were reused after only simple cleaning for the next patient. During the 1976 Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever outbreak, over 80 of the 249 patients were infected due to the use of unsterilized syringes at the hospital.

3. Sexual contact transmission. Ebola virus can be detected in the seminal fluid of patients with Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever. Even some patients who have recovered have been reported to have Ebola virus detected in their seminal fluid 2 to 3 months after recovery. In the 1976 Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever outbreak, an infected patient’s multiple sexual partners were infected.

What are the typical symptoms and clinical manifestations of Ebola virus infection?

If a person tragically contracts the Ebola virus, the early symptoms are similar to a common cold and fever: fever, loss of appetite, headache, and sore throat. At this time, the Ebola virus has already begun to destroy the human immune system of the body. The incubation period of this virus (the time from infection to the first appearance of symptoms) is between 2 to 21 days. Once the victim suddenly begins to show symptoms such as fever, severe headache, and muscle pain, it indicates that they have already been infected.

After a few days, Ebola virus infected individuals will progress to the second stage. Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) causes thrombosis and uncontrolled bleeding, with blood clots appearing in the liver, spleen, brain, and other internal organs. The virus spreads through blood vessels and capillaries, forcing the blood in the vessels to渗透 into surrounding tissues. Ebola virus infected individuals will experience general body pain, chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Subsequently, the patient will develop rashes on the body, which will rapidly spread to the limbs and head. After a few days, there will be a major turning point – at this time, some lucky patients may be cured, while others may progress to a life-threatening stage – hemorrhagic fever. The human immune system of the body is completely destroyed, the body’s capillaries rupture, causing the patient to leak blood from the eyes, lips, ears, and other orifices.