What is Ebola Virus Disease? Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe illness caused by the Ebola virus. EVD is one of a number of viral hemorrhagic fevers that can affect humans and other primates. According to the World Health Organization, on average, around 50% of people who become infected with Ebola virus will die.
Ebola Fact Sheet (PDF 200KB)For more information, please contact the Infectious Disease Control Team:
It can take between two and 21 days from the time EVD gets into the body before symptoms start to show. EVD begins with a sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain and headache. These symptoms may be followed by vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash and bleeding, or bruising.
EVD is spread through direct contact with the blood, vomit, diarrhea or body fluids (sweat, breast milk, saliva) of an infected person. EVD can also be spread through semen for several weeks after recovery. It may also be spread by touching or by being exposed to surfaces or objects that have been contaminated with an infected person’s body fluids. A person infected with Ebola virus cannot spread the virus to others before symptoms appear.
For most people, the risk of EVD is very low. Family members, health care workers or others who have come in close contact with people who are ill or have died of EVD are at greater risk of becoming infected. Travelers to parts of the world where EVD is known to be circulating are at greater risk if they have had direct contact with a person identified or suspected of having EVD.
Currently, there is no effective approved treatment for EVD. Two vaccines are currently undergoing human safety testing.
Quarantine is not recommended for people who have returned, or are visiting, from countries where EVD has been identified. As EVD becomes contagious only once symptoms are present, returning travelers, or people from countries where EVD has been identified, should watch for signs and symptoms of illness for 21 days after entering Canada. In general however, people who have been in affected countries, but have not had any direct contact with people who were ill with EVD, are at low risk for becoming sick themselves.
If you develop signs and/or symptoms of EVD, and you have traveled to a country where EVD is known to be present and/or have been in contact with a person who was known or suspected to have EVD within the last 21 days, stay home and call the Middlesex London Health Unit at 519-663-5317 ext. 2330 Monday to Friday 8:30am-4:30pm, after 4:30 pm and on weekends and holidays select option 2. If you need immediate medical attention call 9-1-1 and inform them of your travel history or possible exposure to the virus and symptoms.
