What is Ebola?
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees).
EVD is caused by a virus, and first appeared in 1976 when two outbreaks (one in an area near the Ebola River in Democratic Republic of Congo, and the other in South Sudan) occurred. Since then, sporadic outbreaks have occurred, most commonly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, South Sudan, Congo and Gabon.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms present themselves anywhere from 2 to 21 days after infection, but mostly between day 8 and 10. The symptoms are similar to the flu, cholera, typhoid and malaria.
Signs and symptoms: Fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach pain and lack of appetite.
This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Bleeding can occur from the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and anus.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) reports that laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes.
People are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus. Ebola virus was isolated from semen 61 days after onset of illness in a man who was infected in a laboratory.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing the disease in someone who has been infected for only a few days is difficult because early symptoms, such as eye inflammation and skin rash, resemble symptoms of several other more common conditions.
If Ebola is suspected, laboratory tests should be done promptly. Only one laboratory in South Africa (the National Institute for Communicable Diseases NICD) is equipped to perform tests for Ebola.
This laboratory serves as a World Health Organisation reference centre for haemorrhagic diseases and also provides this diagnostic test service to many other African countries. There is still no treatment or cure.
How the Scheme covers treatment for Ebola
Should you be diagnosed with Ebola in South Africa, the scheme will cover all costs related to treatment including hospitalisation.
Ebola treatment will be considered an emergency medical condition and therefore a PMB. An emergency medical condition means the sudden and, at the time, unexpected onset of a health condition that requires immediate medical or surgical treatment, where failure to provide medical or surgical treatment would result in serious impairment to bodily functions or serious dysfunction of a bodily organ or part, or would place the person's life in serious jeopardy.
What you should know regarding evacuation
As a member you need to be aware of the fact that should you become sick, the likelihood of you being evacuated home may be extremely unlikely. This is due to countries attempting to limit the spread of the disease by limiting the circulation of ill people and of the viruses they carry. Repatriation cases reported in the media are exceptional and there should be no expectation in this regard.
However, together with Europ Assistance, the Scheme will make every attempt to provide the assistance required, but please bear in mind that due to the national importance of evacuating an infected patient into South Africa, authorisation would be required from Port Health and other public authorities.
For more detailed information on Ebola and how to prevent its spread, a PDF document compiled by Europ Assistance is available.
The information on Fedhealth Medical Aid is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
