(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg) Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) (http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/73804000/jpg/_73804190_fruitbat3.jpg) Fruit bats are believed to be a major carrier of the Ebola virus but do not show symptoms
- Symptoms include high fever, bleeding and central nervous system damage
- Fatality rate can reach 90% - but current outbreak has mortality rate of about 55%
- Incubation period is two to 21 days
- There is no vaccine or cure
- Supportive care such as rehydrating patients who have diarrhoea and vomiting can help recovery
- Fruit bats, a delicacy for some West Africans, are considered to be virus's natural host
(http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/75306000/jpg/_75306515_line976.jpg)
Source: BBC