Ebola virus infection: Its implications in dentistry

The incidence of infectious diseases in humans has increased in the recent past and threatens to increase in the near future. Ebola virus infection unlike other dangerous diseases which are blood borne can be endemic and may emerge as sporadic outbreaks causing worldwide concern as proven by its current outbreak in Africa. Health care professionals are at the leading edge of getting infected with these diseases from the affected individuals. Although dentists do not involve directly in the management of such acute infections, but they may encounter patients seeking dental treatment who are either from, or who have recently toured the endemic disease areas. This article, therefore, summarizes the main features of the Ebola virus infection and its implications in dentistry.