Ebola Devastates Long-term Health

Doctors from the US National Institutes of Health believe that most people who survive an Ebola infection will have long-lasting health problems. 

Their studies on survivors in Liberia showed large numbers had developed weakness, memory loss and depressive symptoms in the six months after being discharged from an Ebola unit. Other patients were "actively suicidal" or still having hallucinations.

More than 17,000 people in West Africa survived Ebola infection.

 The evidence, being presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Neurology, is an early glimpse at a much wider study of long-term health problems after Ebola.

The initial analysis, on 82 survivors, showed that most had severe neurological problems at the height of the infection, including meningitis, hallucinations or falling into a coma.

 Six months later, new long-term problems had developed. Infection with Ebola ravages the body.

Some of the symptoms could improve with time as the body heals, others may be down to social trauma as many survivors are ostracised from their families and communities.

 But other symptoms, including eye problems, indicate damage to the brain, which may not heal.