The Ebola Virus is a very sensitive subject at this time, with an outbreak within Western Africa (Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia most affected) causing panic and fear among many countries across the world. Within this essay, I aim to cover the transmission of the virus and how it replicates within the host cells, whilst briefly looking at the symptoms and dangers of the disease.
The Ebola Virus is the most famous Virus from the group known as the Filoviruses (known for their filamentous shape). Ebola has been previously known as Ebola Haemorrhagic Fever, and is the cause for the Ebola virus disease. It has an extremely high mortality rate, ranging between 50%-90%, causing it to be a very dangerous disease if caught. There is currently no licensed Vaccine to help prevent the disease, and has disastrous effects on the bodies cells, vascular system and immune system.
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the fruit bat. The virus first attacks the cells within the fruit bat by binding to the Glycoprotein receptors on the membrane of the host cell. It does this by having glycoprotiens on the membrane of the virus, causing it to attach to the receptors on the cell and being accepted. From there the virus releases its contents within its membrane into the host. The virus contains nulceoprotiens, RNA, and Polymerase. The host cell is then used (using its organelles) to replicate the viruses RNA and nucleoprotiens. The cell membrane is used to create the membrane for the virus, containing the relevant contents for the cell. Many Ebola viruses are created in this way, causing the bat to become infected with the
It is one of three members of the ‘Filoviridae’ family and comprises of 5 distinct species, three of which are fatal to humans. These fatal species are the ‘Zaire Ebolavirus (EBOV)’, the Reston Ebolavirus (RESTV), and the Sudan Ebolavirus (SUDV). Due to the difficulty in obtaining samples and studying the disease because of the remote areas in which it outbreaks, the cause of Ebola is not yet defined. However, it is greatly suspected that fruit bats carry and spread the virus (through their droppings) without being affected. As mentioned above, the virus is then transmitted to humans through contact with the infected bodily fluids of an infected organism or
The filovirus Ebola consists of 4 families: Marburg, Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, and Ebola Reston. It is a rather simple virus in structure; each contain a single strand RNA strand and 7 different proteins, 3 which are only slightly understood and 4 that are completely unknown. The virus harms the immune system like the HIV virus, but Ebola causes an explosive attack. The virus is associated with the measles and mumps family, pneumonia viruses, parainfluenza viruses which include colds, and respiratory system related viruses. Unlike common viruses which are ball-shaped, Ebola’s shape represents that similar to a shepherd’s crook, a long snake-like thread that looks like a worm. Because the Ebola virus has a distinct structure, it has been classified as a “thread virus” in its own family of viruses, the filoviruses.
The ebola virus contains RNA which is its genetic blueprint and to replicate it must get ‘help’ by infiltrating host cells. These host cells are protected by a membrane so to enter the cell the virus attaches itself by a glycoprotein that’s sticks out from its surface to the nutrients the cell requires for survival. Macropinocytosis, a non-specific engulfing process, is thought to be the most likely mechanism that the ebola virus uses to gain entry into the host cell. Once inside the cell the RNA of
Since March 2014, in excess of 3,000 individuals have passed from the unstoppable spread of the Ebola infection all through the West African nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. Notwithstanding the colossal and miserable loss of human life, the Ebola broad sickness is having shocking and ruinous consequences for these West African economies in a mixed bag of greatly imperative parts/territories by ending exchange, harming cultivating and startling speculators.
First discovered in the 1970’s, the ebola virus was contained to West Africa (“About Ebola Virus Disease”). Villagers’ diets consisted primarily of the resources readily available. Among these resources were fruit, vegetables, and animals, namely monkeys. Monkeys carried the ebola virus, and when people ate them, without proper cleaning and cooking techniques, they became infected. Ebola, formally known as Zaire Ebola Virus, is transmitted through bodily fluids like saliva, blood, semen, breast milk, mucus, sweat, tears, feces and urine. ("Ebola in West Africa."). Since it was introduced to a third world country, where hygiene is not regarded as important as survival. Without education, protection and segregated sewage, the virus began to spread. In days people were dying after spreading the virus to those closest to them (Waterman). The bodies, though dead, were still harboring the virus and
Historically Ebola has had a serious impact on human health and hygiene and still does due to the fact of no vaccine or treatment being discovered, but thanks to improvements in scientific and medical knowledge the virus itself is now controllable.
The Ebola Haemorrahagic Fever, or Ebola for short, was first recognized as a virus in 1967. The first breakout that caused the Ebola virus to be recognized was in Zaire with 318 people infected and 280 killed. There are five subtypes of the Ebola virus, but only four of them affect humans. There are the Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast and the Ebola-Bundibugyo. The fifth one, the Ebola-Reston, only affects nonhuman primates. The Ebola-Zaire was recognized on August 26, 1976 with a 44 year old schoolteacher as the first reported case. The Ebola-Sudan virus was also recognized in 1976 and was thought to be that same as Ebola-Zaire and it is thought to have broken out in a cotton factory in the Sudan. The Ebola-Ivory Coast was
Ebola is a fever-bound viral disease which belongs to the Filoviridae family and is extremely fatal. When it first appeared in 1976, it claimed 90% of its recipients. Ebola originated from Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its name originates from the Ebola River where it was first contracted in Yambuku. Since its initial outbreak and more recent understanding of the disease, medical amends have reduced the mortality rate greatly but it still spans from about 25% to 90% nonetheless. Before its outbreak in the United States in 2014, there were roughly 2300 cases with over 1500 deaths. In 2014, the US had its first outbreak of Ebola with 11 total cases documented where there were 2 deaths. Symptoms include fever,
A disease is a change of functioning in the body that makes it not to function properly. It is a disorder in the normal function of the body. There are different types of diseases such as Ebola virus disease, cholera as well as other types.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever, also known as Ebola is a deadly disease that can be caused by one of the various types of Ebola viruses. Ebola affects primarily humans or nonhuman primates like chimpanzees or gorillas, but recent research has discovered that other animals such as dogs, antelopes, fruit bats, and pigs can be affected as well. It is believed that fruit bats are reservoir hosts to the virus and are the main method that the virus is transmitted to other beings. The virus is usually introduced to humans through blood, secretions, or organs or meat of animals that have been infected, but have not been thoroughly cooked or cleansed.
Ebola is caused by an infection with a virus. There are five identified Ebola virus species, four of which are known to cause disease in humans: Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Taï Forest virus, and Bundibugyo virus.The fifth, Reston virus, has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans. Ebola is a disease that spread extremely fast in Guinea and all over Africa it is killing off many Africans. The first case of Ebola was in December 2013 in Guinea. People deserted hospitals and went home, fueling the rapid spread of the virus. Lagos, a city with a population of 22 million people, experienced eight Ebola deaths. A village of about 1,000 people in Sierra Leone has been placed under quarantine following the death of 67-year-old woman from
Ebola is a rare but deadly virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body. In 1976, Ebola was first spotted in Sudan and Zaire. The first outbreak of Ebola infected over 284 people. A few months later, the second Ebola virus was found in patients from Yambuku, Zaire, Ebola-Zaire (EBOZ), which infected 318 people. Despite the tremendous effort of experienced and dedicated researchers, Ebola's natural reservoir was never identified. The third strain of Ebola, Ebola Reston (EBOR), was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia, from Mindanao in the Philippines. Fortunately, the few people who were infected with EBOR (seroconverted) never developed Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). The last known strain
The Ebola Virus, also called hemorrhagic fever, is a highly contagious and often fatal disease. Ebola is a very rare disease caused through an infection with a strain of Ebola Virus. Ebola is spread through through direct contact with bodily fluids from a victim who already shows the symptoms. Some common symptoms are fever, fatigue, weakness, reddened eyes, joint and muscle pain, headache, and extreme nausea. Symptoms may become prevalent any time between 3 and 21 days.
Normally infecting fruit bats, the Ebola virus found a mutation allowing it to spread to humans. This virus is an acute and often fatal illness. This virus first erupted in two outbreaks in 1976 (one occurring in Nzara and Sudan, while the other occurred in a village near the Ebola river, where the virus takes its name.) The current outbreak, starting in West Africa with the potential to spread throughout the world, is larger and more complex than previous outbreaks. This virus has caused more deaths than all other past Ebola outbreaks combined. With approximately five people infected with the virus every hour in Sierra Leone alone, how far – and how fast – will the Ebola virus go?
The Ebola Virus is an extremely deadly virus found in Africa. There have been multiple outbreaks across Africa and one in the United States. The Ebola virus basically causes uncontrollable bleeding externally and internally. Then your organs become liquefied. This usually results in death(www.encyclopedia.com). The following report contains info on the characteristics and history of the Ebola Virus.