Biological Warfare Vs Ebola

In 2014 the United States was hit with a force far more deadly and dangerous than many threats received. The ebola virus took the world by storm after it was carried to the United States and spread by people who had visited West Africa. This virus was all the more deadly as it often took hours for any symptoms to occur. In this time the Center for Disease Control spent much time and many resources looking for answers to the many questions they had. Under the time constraint and scrutinizing public, they had to determine what ebola was, what it did and its effects on the general public.

As far back as the American Civil War, allegations have been made regarding the use of biological weapons. During the Civil War, both sides accused the other of using the smallpox virus to cause disease among enemy forces. (Hooker, MD, emedicinehealth.com 2014).

One researcher determined that a hand full of biologists and $10,000 could be used to produce biological weapon agents. This stands in starch opposition to the amount of funding, expertise, and obstacles that terrorist would need to overcome to develop their own nuclear programs (Levi, 2007, p.1). Some states have attempted to create their own nuclear weapons; this takes years and hundreds of millions of dollars to accomplish. The materials needed are hard to acquire and special equipment is needed to make the process work. Biological agents on the other hand are, as demonstrated by the researchers assessment, are cheap and relatively easy.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) policies globally has become a confusing and ongoing investigation among world governments and leaderships. The first diagnosis in America confirmed and made public by the Centers if Disease Control (CDC), was in Texas on September 20, 2014. The patient had developed symptoms around the fourth day after coming into the United States (CDC 2014). The patient had stated he did not pose any symptoms when he left West Africa. Upon falling ill, he went to a Texas hospital, and based upon the signs and symptoms he was presenting, the hospital performed a laboratory test. The test confirmed he was in fact positive for the virus, but to found in critical condition. Texas Presbyterian Hospital isolated the patient and unfortunately, the patient died from complications of the virus on October 8, 2014. As stated by DR. Tom Frieda (2014), Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “We will contact anyone we think has any likelihood of having had contact with the patient when he was infectious, starting with relatives he had been staying with” (para 2). Health officials stated that once contacts were identified, they would be monitored for 21 days, which is the incubation period for the virus, for any signs and symptoms of the infection. At that point, the person would be put into quarantine themselves (CDC 2014). The public remained uneasy and questioned what was going to be done to stop the virus

Imagine waking up with extreme fevers, feeling fatigued, weak, headache, nausea and vomiting; these are symptoms of any cold, and pregnancy. Many Americans and other citizens of fully developed countries would not automatically assume they have the Ebola virus, but it is becoming a possibility. The biggest difference is the additions of flu like symptoms is malaise, with reddened eyes, joint, and muscle pain. New outbreaks of the Ebola virus have appeared in other countries like the United States, Spain, United Kingdom, and Italy, countries that are highly developed, causing for a race to find a vaccine for future treatment and prevention devices. The Ebola virus has begun to spread outside of African countries, and is becoming a worldwide problem.

Imagine being diagnosed with a life threatening disease. No cure has been found, and the disease is highly contagious. This is essentially what having the Ebola virus would be like. The three affected West African countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia are doing all that they can to contain and eliminate the Ebola virus. However, every country has a different method for handling crisis. These differing methods can be shown in the recent bringing of the Ebola virus to the United States from Western Africa. The strategies used for containment as well as elimination of the Ebola virus in both Western Africa and the United States may be similar, but are wildly different.

Since a biological weapon of mass destruction is more probable, we must focus on making it extremely difficult for terrorists to get hold of such agents. Of course, we must make sure that we are not limiting the knowledge of the good guys as well. There has to be some fine median between the two needs.

The Ebola virus is spreading like wildfire! Not only is it spreading from person to person but from country to country and now state to state. This virus started in West Africa and now made its way to the United States. Americans are now contracting this fatal virus and the outcomes of what the future holds aren’t looking too good. “How does it affect us? What’s true and what isn’t true about the virus? Is there a cure for it?” These are all questions that Americans are dying to know. Truth is, we only know what we hear. No one really knows 100% true answers. What is known, however, are how socially and economically America will be affected. Also, what is known are how certain rumors that are spreading aren’t necessarily true.

The WHO which is the supreme international organization set up primarily for the purpose of dealing with such epidemics, falls short of the responsibility that it has been entrusted with. Recent reports from West Africa conjure an image of total chaos in the affected areas which lack the resources and infrastructure needed to deal with such a crisis. Although the primary responsibility to deal with such an outbreak rests with the government of the respective country, it is too great an expectation to require these poor West African nations to conjure up the required infrastructure and adequate resources to deal with the intractable Ebola virus.

I’m sure you have recently heard of the Ebola Virus Disease breakouts in the media all across the globe. But the the real question is: Do you know what the Ebola Virus Disease is? Do you know why it is so concerning? The Ebola Virus Disease is rapidly affecting people all over the world. The Ebola Virus Disease has become a serious issue in today’s world and it must be taken care of before it is too late.

In 2014, an outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease occurred in a number of West African countries, with most cases confined to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The highly contagious disease, spread via contact with infected body fluid, including mucus, saliva, tears, sweat, breast milk, and semen, infected more than 28,000 people. Although generally contained, the effects of the epidemic were felt both directly and indirectly in the United States and many other developed countries due to the limited education on Ebola. Since October 2014, the African epidemic has been abated, and global efforts have shifted from crisis response to development of preventative strategies. In the United States, researchers, clinicians, and other decision makers focus

The Ebola virus was first introduced in the late 1900s in Sudan and Zaire. The Virus killed over 430 people, which left people devastated and confused. According to researchers Ebola started with a human being infected by a bat. Once the human contracts the virus it becomes contagious to other humans. The Virus became a constant repetition starting with one person it was easily exposed with contact from an infected person. The Authors want the world to be aware of this deadly disease that could ruin their lives that was the purpose of writing these articles. The importance of these articles is the reason why people are enlightened on these diseases. The Virus didn’t spread across America such as other countries in the world. This article is

In March of 2014, in West Africa, the Ebola outbreak began. This horrendous disease causes symptoms such as “…sudden onset of fever, muscle aches, weakness, sore throat and headache.” Last year, when Ebola spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, believed the “…outbreak could reach 1.4 million cases by early next year.” The President Barack Obama spoke about the issue and what needed to happen in order to keep the people safe. However, a year later, Ebola is still taking lives from innocent people.

What we do know is that Ebola has mostly been deadly, but it is treatable. Ebola is scary; it is a virus that has taken many lives, mostly in North Africa. Now our President has decided to send troops to help curb the spread of the disease. Many Americans now I’m sure, are concerned for the well being of the soldiers being sent overseas, and the possibility of a wider spread of the virus.

Biological weapon can be defined as any kind of organism such as the bacteria, fungi or viruses, or any toxin (poisonous compounds that are produced by organisms) that can be used to kill the host or kill/injure human beings. There are varying acts of bioterrorism ranging from a hoax to actual use of these biological weapons or agents. Of late, a very significant number of countries are pursuing the ownership or possession of biological weapons and there is a growing concern among many nations that there is a possibility of terrorist groups having access to the weapons or the knowledge of making such weapons and using tem to kill an individual or a population (Daniel J Dire, 2011).