Ebola virus disease

Symptoms may appear 2 to 21 days after exposure.

Early symptoms can include:

• fever
• headache
• muscle aches and weakness
• sore throat
• tiredness

As the illness progresses, symptoms may include:

• nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
• abdominal pain
• rash
• confusion
• bruising or bleeding (from the nose, gums, eyes, or other parts of the body, or blood in vomit and stools/bowel motions).

Ebola disease can become severe and may affect multiple organs of the body.

Early medical care can be life-saving.

People with Ebola disease require hospital care and supportive treatment, such as fluids, medicines and monitoring.

Ebola disease spreads through direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person or animal (alive or dead), including:

• blood
• urine
• saliva
• sweat
• faeces
• vomit
• semen
• breast milk
• tears.

The virus can enter the body through broken skin or through the eyes, nose or mouth.

Ebola disease can also spread through:

• contact with objects or surfaces that have been in contact with infected body fluids
• caring for someone who is sick with Ebola disease
• contact during burial or funeral practices
• contact with infected animals or animal products
• sexual contact with someone who has, or has recently recovered from, Ebola disease.

Fruit bats are believed to carry the virus in some countries. The viruses causing Ebola disease have not been found in Australian bats.

People most at risk of infection

• people living in, or travelling to Ebola disease affected areas
• healthcare and laboratory workers
• people caring for someone with Ebola disease
• people taking part in traditional burial ceremonies in affected areas.

There is no vaccine readily available to prevent Ebola disease.  While there are vaccines against one of the viruses that cause Ebola disease, use is restricted to specific high-risk situations with no routine availability in Australia.

Before travelling:

• check Smartraveller and World Health Organization outbreak updates
• seek health advice if going to affected areas.

If you are planning to work or volunteer in healthcare or outbreak response settings in an affected area, seek advice from the organisation you are working with before departure and ensure you are familiar with recommended infection prevention and control procedures and border health procedures.

To reduce the risk of infection:

• avoid contact with blood or other body fluids of sick people or animals (live or dead)
• wash hands regularly and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• avoid traditional burial practices involving contact with the body
• avoid eating raw or undercooked animal products

What to do if you may have been exposed

Seek urgent medical advice if you:

• have travelled to an Ebola-affected area and become unwell
• have had contact with an animal or person who may have been infected with Ebola disease.

Call before going to a GP or hospital and tell them:

• your symptoms
• where you have travelled
• any possible exposure to Ebola disease.

• If you are in an emergency situation, call 000 and tell them you have been exposed to Ebola disease.
• Get qualified health advice 24/7 for the cost of a local call, by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
• For further information, please contact your local doctor, community health centre or nearest public health unit.

For more information

• Smartraveller
• World Health Organization – Ebola disease
• Australian Centre for Disease Control – Ebola disease