Ebola Infection – A rising public health challenge

Dr T K Ray, Arora S

Dr T K Ray, Arora S Professor , Community Medicine LHMC, Delhi

Abstract

Ebola viral disease one of the fatal infections, though traditionally known to be confined to African countries has drawn lot of global attention in recent time because of its rapid progression within short span. Mainly the poor people who have frequent exposure to forest life and practice certain sociocultural rituals after death of an individual are the main victims of Ebola infection. However no country including India is immune to Ebola because of international travelling and promotion of tourism. Lack of suitable treatment and high infectivity and case fatality have made the disease one of the worst public health emergencies. There are evidence that, bats are the natural host or reservoir for Ebola virus. Humans may get infected with Ebola after coming in contact with infected wildlife (as hunted for food) and or bat. But role of sexual route cannot be ruled out.

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