Since March 2014, there has been an ongoing Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever (caused by Ebola virus) outbreak in Guinea in West Africa. By the end of July, more than 400 cases have been reported, including at least 300 deaths, in the country. The neighbouring countries, Liberia and Sierra Leone, have recorded a total of 600 cases (confirmed and suspected).
The map shows the distribution of Ebola outbreaks in the recent 3 decades and the home range of fruit bats (possible natural host of Ebola virus). Background colour of countries represents the Ebola subtype, with pie charts showing the proportion of deceased cases whereas their sizes indicate the total number of reported cases in the respective time period. Among subtypes, Ebola-Zaire has the highest geographic coverage, number of people infected and the longest time range. At the recent outbreak in Guinea, Ebola-Zaire subtype infection is reported for the first time in West Africa. Ebola virus can be transmitted through direct contacts with blood, secretions, other bodily fluid and organs of infected animals or human. Infection control in health-care settings and personal preventive measures are essential for controlling the spread of this deadly infection.
Data for the map were extracted from WHO and CDC.
今年三月,西非國家畿內亞爆發伊波拉出血熱 (由伊波拉病毒引起的疾病),並持續至現在尚未完結。截止七月底,已經有超過400宗確診及懷疑個案,當中超過300人死亡。至於鄰近國家,利比利亞及塞拉利昂共有超過600宗確診及懷疑個案。
地圖顯示近三十年伊波拉出血熱的爆發地區及果蝠(相信是原宿主)棲息地的分佈,地區顏色代表伊波拉亞型病毒種類,餅圖代表死亡人數比例,大小則表示報告人數。過去三十年,薩伊株是感染最多國家,最多人及持續最久的伊波拉亞型病毒。這次也是薩伊株亞型病毒第一次肆虐西非。伊波拉病毒可以通過接觸已受感染的動物及人的血液、體液和器官傳播。為預防此極高死亡率的疾病傳播,醫療機構感染控制及個人預防措施至關重要。
地圖資料源自世界衛生組織及美國疾病控制與預防中心。
What is Ebola haemorrhagic fever? 什麼是伊波拉出血熱?
Ebola haemorrhagic fever, a disease caused by Ebola virus, spreads through wildlife-to-human or from human to human. The main signs and symptoms include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and livery function. There can be internal and external bleeding. The time interval from infection to symptom onset (incubation period) is 2-21 days. There is no specific treatment available and only supportive therapy is indicated. The case fatality rate is as high as 90%.
伊波拉出血熱是野生動物傳人或人傳人的疾病。此病由伊波拉病毒引致,大部分感染者初時會發燒、嚴重乏力和疲倦、頭痛、肌肉痛及咽炎喉嚨痛,緊接著作嘔、肚瀉、皮疹、肝腎功能衰退,甚至可能內外出血。而病徵一般於二至二十一天內出現。目前並沒有特定的治療方法,醫生一般對患者施以支援性治療。此病的死亡率可高達百分之九十。
How does it spread? 如何傳播?
Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with blood, secretions, other bodily fluid and organs of infected animals or human. Pteropodidae family of fruit bats is considered as possible natural host of Ebola virus.
伊波拉病毒可以通過接觸已受感染的動物及人的血液、體液和器官傳播。相信果蝠(大蝙蝠科) 是原宿主。
Vaccine? Prevention? 如何預防?
There is no vaccine available for Ebola haemorrhagic fever. The only ways to prevent transmission include infection control in health-care settings, raising awareness of Ebola infection risk factors and personal preventive measures.
現時沒有疫苗。於醫療機構實行感染控制、提高對伊波拉病毒感染的認識及採取個人預防措施是主要的預防傳播方法。
Organisations 有關機構
Further information 詳細資料