Ebola haemorrhagic fever

EHF is a viral infection that is mainly transmitted by fruit bats and has as a leading symptom very high fever, which can lead to coma. It is highly contagious. EHF has been diagnosed in Central and West Africa.

After about 8 days (3-21 days), patients typically experience very high fever, in combination with headache, chest pain, muscle ache all over, vomiting, diarrhea and rash of the skin. In some cases, severe bleeding, as well as disorientation, organ failures and coma states occur.

There are over 25 different types of viruses that cause EHF. The virus belongs to the family Filoviridae. To date, 6 different Ebola viruses have been identified.

Bats function as transmitters of the virus (especially their excreta or salvia), but some cases also report transmission by other primates, e.g. gorillas and chimpanzees. The transfer from person to person takes place by direct contact of blood or body fluid of the infected person.