Ebola symptoms and how it spreads as officials confirm 131 dead in outbreak

The Progression of Symptoms

Ebola typically begins with non-specific symptoms that mimic many other common illnesses found in tropical regions, such as malaria or typhoid. This often leads to initial misdiagnosis and a delay in proper isolation.

• Initial Phase (Days 2–10 post-exposure): The onset is sudden, characterized by a high fever, intense fatigue, severe headache, muscle and joint pain, and a sore throat.

• Gastrointestinal Phase: As the virus replicates, symptoms intensify to include significant vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), and severe stomach pain. This phase leads to rapid and dangerous dehydration.

• The Hemorrhagic Turn: In a subset of patients, the disease manifests with unexplained bleeding or bruising. This can include bleeding from the gums, nose, eyes, or internal hemorrhaging, which contributes to multi-organ failure.

• Post-Recovery (“Post-Ebola Syndrome”): Survivors often face long-term health challenges. These include chronic joint pain, inflammation of the eyes (uveitis) which can lead to vision loss, persistent fatigue, and significant psychological trauma, including depression and PTSD.

Transmission Mechanisms

Ebola is not airborne. It is not spread through casual contact, such as walking past someone, or through water or food (outside of the initial transmission from infected animals). Transmission occurs specifically through the following pathways: