Ebola virus is transmitted through contact with patient body fluids. Infectious virions may persist for weeks in the same of recovered patients.
Contaminated needles can also cause the infection. Nosocomial and community-acquired transmission can occur. Transmission through semen may occur up to 7 weeks after clinical recovery.
During infection, the Ebola virus accumulates in high numbers in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and lungs, severely damaging these organs during the course of the disease.
The initial symptoms of infection may include flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle and headaches, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and malaise.
Zaire and Sudan strains produce a disease characterized by multifocal organ necrosis, coagulopathy, extensive visceral effusions, hemorrhagic shock, and death.
As viremia overtakes the immune system, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy occurs and the patient may go into shock or coma.
Ebola infection
