EBOLA VIRUS-INFECTION - AN OVERVIEW

The current outbreak of the Ebola virus infection in Africa has yet ag ain proven that highly dangerous diseases that are transmitted via the blood-borne route may be endemic in some parts of the world and may e merge as sporadic outbreaks causing worldwide concern. Health care pro fessionals are at the forefront of combating these diseases and treati ng infected individuals. Though dental professionals are unlikely to b e directly involved in the management ment of such acute infections, w ith very high mortality rates, they may encounter patients seeking den tal treatment who are either from, or who have recently toured the end emic disease areas. This overview, therefore, is a thumb nail sketch o f the Ebola virus infection and its implications for dentistry.