M.S. Basavaraj, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, University Health Centre, University of Mysore, said that early diagnosis of Ebola virus disease was difficult as symptoms were similar to other infections.
The early symptoms of Ebola virus disease were muscle ache, fever, vomiting, red eyes, skin rash, diarrhoea and stomach pain. Acute symptoms included internal bleeding, he said.
During his presentation on ‘Emerging viral diseases: a new threat to mankind’ at a lecture organised by the Association of Microbiologists of India at CFTRI here on Monday, Dr. Basavaraj said there was no standard treatment available for the disease. Patients got supportive treatment: treating complicating infections, balancing patients’ fluids and electrolytes, and maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure. Dr. Basavaraj said the hospitals must follow precautionary methods such as wearing gloves, isolating infected persons, sterilisation and disposal of equipment used to treat patients, proper burial of the dead, preventing washing or touching bodies of infected patients, and reporting suspected sickness to health officials.
He said that other emerging viral diseases included influenza, dengue, chikungunya and SARS.
Speaking on dengue, Dr. Basavaraj said there was no vaccine available for dengue or specific drugs to treat the infection. This made prevention important.
