How Can I Tell If I Have Contracted the Ebola Virus?

Ebola is a deadly virus that can cause great harm, even death, and it’s important to know how to identify its symptoms. Knowing what signs to look for and when to seek medical help could be life-saving. So if you’re worried that you might have contracted the Ebola virus, here’s what you need to know.

The Ebola virus was first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, there have been numerous outbreaks of this severe viral illness across parts of Africa and other parts of the world. Although it is rare for people from countries outside of Africa to contract the virus, it is still important to be aware of its symptoms so that you can take appropriate action if necessary.

When someone contracts the Ebola virus, they typically experience fever, headache, muscle pain and weakness. These symptoms usually start two days after infection but may occur as quickly as a few hours or up to five days after infection. Additionally, patients may experience diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained bleeding or bruising—all potential indicators that you should seek medical attention right away.

If left untreated, these early symptoms can develop into more serious issues such as hepatitis (liver inflammation), jaundice (yellowing of skin) and renal failure (kidney failure). In addition to these physical manifestations of the disease, psychological issues like confusion and disorientation may also emerge after a period of time without treatment. These are all reasons why it’s critical for anyone who suspects they may have been infected with Ebola to seek medical help as soon as possible.

With prompt medical care—which includes supportive care such as hydration—most patients survive an outbreak of Ebola. But diagnosis can be complicated by the fact that many other illnesses share some or all of these same symptoms—including malaria and meningitis—so doctors must be extra vigilant when considering any possible cases of Ebola infection. The most reliable way is through laboratory testing which involves taking a sample from your blood or tissue and sending it off for analysis in a specialist laboratory setting; results usually take anywhere between 24-48 hours depending on where your sample is being examined.

It’s important to remember that if you have recently traveled either directly or indirectly to an area affected by Ebola (such as West Africa during 2014-2015) especially if you experienced flu-like symptoms within three weeks before returning home then it’s essential that you contact your doctor immediately so that they can carry out more detailed tests on you in order to rule out any possibility of having contracted the virus during your travels abroad - just in case.

Ebola is a severe viral illness with potentially fatal consequences; however swift diagnosis and treatment greatly increase chances for survival so if you think there's even a chance that you might have been exposed then don't hesitate to get tested straight away! Being informed about how to spot the early signs of infection along with knowing when and where to seek help means that we can better protect ourselves from this dangerous disease while ensuring we receive prompt medical care should we need it - something which could save our lives at any given moment!