Which statement about hemorrhage in Ebola is accurate?

Which statement about hemorrhage in Ebola is accurate?

• A. Hemorrhage occurs in more than 90% of cases
• B. Hemorrhage is never seen
• C. Hemorrhage occurs in less than 50% of cases
• D. Hemorrhagic symptoms are required for diagnosis

Answer: (C)

Hemorrhagic signs in Ebola are not seen in every patient. In Ebola virus disease, bleeding can occur but is only present in a minority of cases, commonly well under half depending on the outbreak. That’s why the accurate statement is that hemorrhage occurs in less than 50% of cases. Importantly, bleeding is not required for diagnosis—the illness is diagnosed by exposure history and laboratory confirmation (such as PCR). When bleeding does occur, it signals more severe disease, but many patients do not exhibit hemorrhagic symptoms at all.

Hemorrhagic signs in Ebola are not seen in every patient. In Ebola virus disease, bleeding can occur but is only present in a minority of cases, commonly well under half depending on the outbreak. That’s why the accurate statement is that hemorrhage occurs in less than 50% of cases. Importantly, bleeding is not required for diagnosis—the illness is diagnosed by exposure history and laboratory confirmation (such as PCR). When bleeding does occur, it signals more severe disease, but many patients do not exhibit hemorrhagic symptoms at all.