Ebola feverA98.4

Author:Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer

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Last updated on: 12.11.2024

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Synonym(s)

African haemorrhagic fever; EBO-HF; Maridi-hemorrhagic fever

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DefinitionThis section has been translated automatically.

Acute hemorrhagic febrile illness caused by the Ebola virus with high lethality, which is transmitted from person to person.

PathogenThis section has been translated automatically.

Ebola virus, family of filo viruses. There are 4 known strains: Zaire, Sudan, Reston (does not cause hemorrhagic fever), Ivory Coast.

Occurrence/EpidemiologyThis section has been translated automatically.

Named after the Ebola river.

The first cases occurred in southern Sudan in 1972 and 1976. The towns of Maridi (first named Maridi haemorrhagic fever) and Nzara in Sudan and the town of Yambuka in the Democratic Republic of Congo [formerly Zaire] were affected.

Epidemic outbreaks in Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, South Africa, Gabon, Ivory Coast.

Human-to-human transmission; the reservoir is unknown (probably fruit bat species).

ClinicThis section has been translated automatically.

Incubation period 4-10 days (2-21 days). Abrupt fever and uncharacteristic accompanying symptoms. Conjunctivitis (often hemorrhagic), maculo-papular exanthema, petechiae, followed by pharyngitis, severe nausea, vomiting, severe bleeding tendency, delirium.

LaboratoryThis section has been translated automatically.

Initial lymphocytosis, followed by neutrophilia; thrombocytopenia with abnormal aggregation tendency; only slight increase in bilirubin. Elevated transaminases, high AST/ALT ratio.

DiagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.

Virus detection in RT-PCR

Antibody detection (immunofluorescence, Western blot)

Electron microscopic virus detection

Antigen detection in liver scrapings

Cultivation test in guinea pigs or Vero cells.

Differential diagnosisThis section has been translated automatically.

Marburg fever; malaria; typhoid fever; bacterial meningo-pepticemia; leptospirosis; anthrax; relapsing fever.

TherapyThis section has been translated automatically.

Symptomatic therapy.

In the early stages, reconvalescent serum (no longer recommended due to the possible risk of hepatitis B, C and HI virus infection).

Note: Synthetic self-amplifying RNAs (saRNAs) are safe and potent immunostimulants that can be produced in large quantities at low cost using cell-free systems and good manufacturing practices. Overall, saRNAs expressing viral antigens represent a promising future EBOLA vaccine platform (Krähling V et al. 2023).

Progression/forecastThis section has been translated automatically.

Death after 6-9 days (1-21 days).

Severe course during pregnancy.

Reconvalescence possible, but delayed, with weight loss, amnesia.

ProphylaxisThis section has been translated automatically.

Immediately isolate people who are ill or suspected of being ill.

Avoid contact with sick people.

Adhere to strict infection control measures.

Vaccination (active immunization): Vaccination of Javan monkeys (long-tailed macaques; Macaca fascicularis) with an attenuated, live, recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), which produces a so-called glycoprotein of the Zaire ebolavirus strain "Kikwit" on its surface, has been successful. Vaccination in humans is still being tested.

Note(s)This section has been translated automatically.

Remember! Suspected illness, illness and death must be reported by the doctor to the public health department by name according to §6 IfSG. According to § 7 IfSG there is an obligation to report in case of direct or indirect evidence of the virus.

LiteratureThis section has been translated automatically.

  1. Editorial (1977) "After Marburg, Ebola". Lancet 1: 581-582
  2. Editorial (1977) Ebola virus infection. Br Med J 2: 539-540
  3. Emond RT et al (1977) Br Med J 2: 541-544

  4. Krähling V et al. (2023) Self-amplifying RNA vaccine protects mice against lethal Ebola virus infection. Mol Ther 31:374-386.

Authors

Last updated on: 12.11.2024

Author: Prof. Dr. med. Peter Altmeyer