What is the life expectancy for an ebola virus patient

Not Medical Advice: The virus can easily spread because symptoms don't immediately appear. Once the virus takes hold, many die in an average of 10 days as the blood fails to clot and hemorrhaging occurs. The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is 2 to 21 days.

What Actually Happens When A Person Is Infected With The Ebola Virus via kwout

Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.

No licensed vaccine for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is available. Several vaccines are being tested, but none are available for clinical use. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. Patients are frequently dehydrated and require oral rehydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids.

More info about Ebola virus, including prevention tips and advice, can be found at the World Health Organization's website.

One of two known American Ebola victims, missionary Nancy Writebol wasn't looking to abandon her overseas work. But Jeremy Writebol believes his 59-year-old mother can yield a greater good from her impending return to the United States amid West Africa's worst-ever outbreak of the often-deadly virus. Read more at ABC News.