TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia has been shaken by news about a patients suspected for ebola. The patient who returned home from Liberia is now hospitalized at Madiun Public Hospital, East Java.

United Nations’ World Health Organization has recorded at least 13,703 of ebola virus infection. The Ebola outbreak firstly spotted in West Africa and has since killed thousands in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierral Leone.

Worldwide concerns arose after Ebola patient were found in United States and Spain. Among ebola facts, there is 50 to 90 percent possibility that infected people will die. So far, there has not been special cure to treat this disease.

Carriers for Ebola Virus

Latest research shows that megabats or fruit bats is the carrier fro ebola virus. The virus can also transferred by primates, wild antelope, and human.

Ebola Spread Methods

Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, by food. However, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola virus. Only a few species of mammals (for example, humans, bats, monkeys, and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus.

Healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and the family and friends in close contact with Ebola patients are at the highest risk of getting sick because they may come in contact with infected blood or body fluids of sick patients.

Ebola Symptoms

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising). Symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days.

Around 40 to 50 percent case include hemorrhage on inner organs and inner skin layer.

Prevention of Ebola Infection

Risks of Ebola infection can be reduced by cooking the food until well done. In addition, keeping the body clean will help to reduce the risk. When the outbreak has started, special protection suit may be needed.

RAJU FEBRIAN (WHO, CDC, MSF, SLATE.COM | KATJA MISCHKE)