Ebola Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (EVD) is a bio-hazard and a bioterrorism with a global health impact. It is currently one of the public health emergencies which requires a multidisciplinary approach in its diagnosis and management, hence, necessitating an emergency preparedness response. The role of Haematology in the management of EVD cannot be over-emphasized. This is evidenced by the haematological findings in peripheral blood samples of victims of Ebola outbreaks. The key findings which include peripheral blood pancytopenia (severe leucopenia with degenerating neutrophils and atypical lymphocytopenia, severe thrombocytopenia with coagulopathy evidenced by excessive bleeding and anaemia), depressed cell-mediated immunity (decreased T-cell and CD8+ HLA-DR+ activation), unresponsive peripheral blood monoclonal cells, high viral antigenaemia and elevation of the serum nitrous oxide levels are evidences of impaired immune system. These findings play key roles in the diagnosis, monitoring, and prognostication of the disease outcomes.
This study was a critical evaluation of EVD and the roles of haematology and immunology in the diagnosis and palliative treatment of the disease.
Key words: EVD, Sero-epidemiology, Haematologic diagnosis, Surveillance
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