As Nigeria responds to a confirmed case of Ebola Bundibugyo virus disease in Abuja, health authorities say recognising the symptoms early is important for identifying suspected infections and preventing further transmission.
Ebola is a serious viral disease that can cause severe illness and death. However, its early symptoms are similar to those of more common illnesses, including malaria and typhoid fever, making it difficult to identify based on symptoms alone.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), symptoms can appear between two and 21 days after infection, although they commonly begin around eight to 10 days after exposure.
What are the 10 warning signs of Ebola?
The illness can begin suddenly, with symptoms that initially resemble a common infection.
According to the WHO and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the warning signs include:
Fever: A sudden rise in body temperature is a common early symptom.
Severe headache: An infected person may experience persistent or intense head pain.
Extreme weakness: The person may feel unusually tired or physically weak.
Muscle and joint pain: Aches and pains can affect different parts of the body.
Sore throat: Throat pain may develop alongside fever and other early symptoms.
Loss of appetite: The person may have little desire to eat.
Vomiting: This may develop as the illness progresses.
Diarrhoea: Some patients experience diarrhoea that can cause significant fluid loss.
Abdominal pain: Stomach pain may accompany vomiting and diarrhoea.
Unexplained bleeding or bruising: Some patients develop bleeding from the gums, nose or other sites, or experience unusual bruising.
Other possible symptoms include difficulty breathing or swallowing, hiccups, confusion and signs of impaired kidney or liver function. However, not every patient develops all these symptoms.
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