Ebolavirus: A Deadly Threat to Be Aware of, But Not Panic About

     Although Ebola spreads less easily on a wide scale than COVID-19, the severity of the disease and its mortality rate remain deeply concerning. Doctors are therefore raising awareness about the disease to help people protect themselves from this threat, whether at home or flying to high-risk countries.

Amid international concern, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared "Ebola virus disease" outbreak in the DR Congo (May 2026) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) once again.

Getting to Know "Ebola"

     Ebola virus disease (Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever) is an infectious disease caused by the Ebola virus. It is classified under the same group of highly severe viral hemorrhagic fevers (Viral Hemorrhagic Fever), with the "Marburg virus" being its close relative in the family Filoviridae. The word Filo refers to the thread-like structure of the virus.

How is the infection transmitted?

• Found in wild animals in nature that act as hosts: Especially fruit bats (certain species in Central and West Africa can carry the virus without dying from it), chimpanzees, and other wildlife.
• Transmitted and spread through "human-to-human" contact: Occurs via direct contact with body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, vomitus, feces, or even sweat of infected individuals, entering the body through broken skin (non-intact skin) or mucous membranes.

Ebola is different from COVID-19 or influenza regarding viral load and detection. Ebola multiplies and can only be detected after symptoms begin. As the disease progresses severely, the likelihood of transmitting the virus increases. For this reason, close contacts do not need immediate quarantine like other diseases, but are advised to isolate once they start showing symptoms.

Ebola: From Past to Present

     Since the discovery of its close viral relative, Marburg, in 1967, and the identification of the outbreak named "Ebola," our world has faced epidemics from various Ebola strains. The Zaire strain (ZEBOV) is the most widely known strain globally because it caused a major epidemic affecting over 30,000 people with tens of thousands of deaths (approx. 3:1 ratio). Consequently, medical science has accelerated testing development, treatments, and vaccines primarily targeting the Zaire strain.

Severity and Key Differences

     Ebola has a very high mortality rate (ranging from approximately one-third to half of those infected) but has a unique characteristic different from COVID-19: "high mortality but low transmissibility." This is because patients rapidly become severely ill and bedridden, making wide-scale or transcontinental travel to spread the infection much more difficult compared to COVID-19, where some infected individuals are asymptomatic and can still move around. To date, Thailand has never reported any cases of Ebola infection in humans or animals within the country.

The primary mechanism leading to death is often due to capillary leakage, causing multi-organ failure, rather than direct death from massive blood loss.

Symptoms to Watch and Incubation Period

The incubation period for Ebola ranges from 2 to 21 days, with symptoms divided into two main phases:

• Initial Phase: Sudden onset of high fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat (similar to influenza).
• Severe Phase: Diarrhea, vomiting, rash, impaired liver and kidney function. In severe cases, there may be internal and external bleeding, contributing to fatal outcomes.

Treatments and Vaccines

• Common Strains (such as Zaire): Vaccines, ready-to-use immunity (Monoclonal Antibody), and certain specific therapeutic drugs have begun to be used abroad to alleviate the disease.
• Bundibugyo Strain (BDBV): This is the strain currently causing the outbreak (in the year 2026). It is a rare strain and there is currently no officially approved vaccine or treatment for it. The primary management at present is supportive care to alleviate symptoms and improve survival chances, such as fluid therapy and respiratory support.

Prevention Methods

• Avoid contact with or consuming bushmeat.
• Avoid contact with body fluids of patients or objects contaminated with the virus.
• If returning from a high-risk country and developing a fever within 21 days, see a doctor immediately and declare your travel history.
• Healthcare workers must strictly use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when caring for suspected cases.

Doctor's Takeaway Message

     Although Ebola is a terrifying disease, we would like the public to be "aware but not panicked." This is because its transmission does not spread easily through the air like COVID-19 or measles. Thailand's public health system maintains strict surveillance, including screening at disease control checkpoints and readiness of negative-pressure isolation rooms. The most crucial factor is to remain vigilant, follow news from reliable sources, and practice good personal hygiene consistently.