Ebola disease is rare but can cause serious illness in humans and some animals. The public health risk to people in British Columbia from Ebola is low.
Ebola disease is a rare but severe illness caused by a group of viruses, known as orthoebolaviruses, including the Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Bundibugyo virus and Taï Forest virus. It affects people and nonhuman primates (e.g., monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Early stages of the disease are characterized by flu-like symptoms, which can progress to bleeding, organ dysfunction and death.
Ebola is spread through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person or animal infected with Ebola. There has never been a case of Ebola in Canada. Outbreaks have been documented in several African countries since the virus’ discovery in 1976.
In an Ebola outbreak, the first human case is usually spread to people from close contact with wild animals such as bats, porcupines, non-human primates, forest antelope, or pigs in areas in Africa where the virus is present.
Once one person is infected with the virus, Ebola can spread from person-to-person through direct contact. The virus enters the body through broken skin or through the eyes, nose, or mouth (mucous membranes). People can become infected from contact with:
- Body fluids or tissues of a person who is sick with Ebola disease, such as blood, semen, saliva, urine, vomit, feces, sweat, and breast milk
- Includes sexual contact with someone who has Ebola disease
- Objects contaminated with infected body fluids, such as needles and other medical equipment, bed linen, or soiled clothing
- Semen or breast milk from a person who recovered from Ebola disease
- The body of someone who has died from Ebola
Ebola cannot be spread:
- In the air
- Through food or water
- From a person infected with Ebola who does not have symptoms
No animals in BC or elsewhere in Canada have been found to be naturally infected with an Ebola virus that can cause Ebola disease. The likelihood of a pet being exposed to the Ebola virus in Canada is very low. To be exposed, they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a person or another animal sick with Ebola.
There have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or spreading it to people or other animals, even in areas where Ebola is present.
In the unlikely event that a pet in BC is exposed to the Ebola virus, veterinary and public health practitioners would investigate the situation and recommend actions to manage risk.
Symptoms appear two to 21 days after exposure. Initial symptoms include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Fatigue (feeling tired)
- Muscle or joint pain
More severe symptoms may appear three to 10 days after initial symptom onset. These include:
- Rash
- Nausea
- Vomiting that can be bloody
- Diarrhea that can be bloody
- Bleeding
Seven to 12 days after the initial symptom onset, symptoms may start to improve or become more severe. Ebola disease often progresses to severe illness that can be fatal. These symptoms include:
- Bleeding from gums, nose, injection sites and/or intestines (occurs in 50% of cases)
- Difficulty breathing
- Shock
- Multi-organ dysfunction
- Death
If you have come in direct contact with someone with Ebola disease, or with contaminated objects, call 811 who will direct you to your local public health unit. You may be asked to monitor your temperature and symptoms. If you are concerned that you may have Ebola disease, contact 811 or your health care provider.
If your healthcare provider and local public health authority are concerned that Ebola disease is a possibility there is a specific blood test to diagnose Ebola disease.
There is no specific treatment for Ebola; patients are provided with supportive care. This can include:
- Balancing fluids and electrolytes
- Maintaining vital signs
- Treating any complicating infections
Some treatments are approved for a specific Ebola virus strain. For other strains, researchers are looking into treatments that may be helpful.
The best way to prevent Ebola infection is to avoid contact with people and animals sick with Ebola disease, or items soiled with their blood or body fluids.
Those at higher risk of Ebola exposure include:
- Healthcare workers working with people with Ebola disease
- Family members/caregivers caring for someone with Ebola disease
- Laboratory workers working with orthoebolaviruses
- Travellers to an area affected by Ebola disease, especially those staying in communities with active transmission
- People who handle or eat wild animals (sometimes called bushmeat) in affected areas
There is an approved adult vaccine for one strain of Ebola that is used in outbreak settings or after a specific exposure.
There are things you can do to lower your risk if you are in a region with an Ebola disease outbreak or may be exposed by a traveller returning from an area with an Ebola disease outbreak:
- Wash your hands frequently
- Avoid contact with blood or body fluids from people who are sick or have died from Ebola disease, or objects they may have used (clothing, bedding, surfaces)
- Avoid sexual activity with anyone who is sick
- Avoid handling live or dead wild animals or their body fluids
- No animals in Canada have been found to be infected with an Ebola virus
People in close contact with someone with Ebola disease must take precautions to prevent infection. Precautions include:
- Wearing protective equipment, such as gloves, goggles, masks, and gowns
- Following infection control procedures, such as equipment sterilization, and appropriate cleaning and disposal of soiled items
