Inside the Infection

Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever virus, meaning it can damage blood vessels and disrupt clotting. The progression is frightening, but not every patient bleeds dramatically:

• Days 1-3 - fever, headache, muscle pain; looks like malaria or flu
• Days 4-7 - vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and worsening dehydration
• Later illness - some patients develop internal or external bleeding, including blood in vomit or stool, nosebleeds, or bleeding from puncture sites
• Severe cases - death can follow from shock, fluid loss, and multi-organ failure

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids, which makes caring for the sick extraordinarily dangerous.