Ebola Virus Disease

In late 2013, Ebola virus disease (EVD), a deadly and lethal disease, remerged in West Africa spreading to various countries in the region. In humans, the disease is spread through contact with infected bodily fluids leading to haemorrhagic fever (World Health Organization [WHO], 2015). Originating in 1976 in equatorial Africa, past outbreaks with a few hundred cases had been contained within rural, forested areas in Uganda and Congo (Piot, 2012). In 2014, a total of 20, 206 cases and 7,905 deaths were reported to have occurred in up to eight countries worldwide. Of all cases and deaths resulting from the disease, 99.8% occurred in three neighbouring West African countries - Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea (WHO, 2014). With a case fatality rate from about 50% to 90%, and the absence of preventative or curative therapies, the Ebola epidemic has led to overall global alarm and further elucidated existing global health disparities that perpetuated the epidemic with these West African countries.

The whole world is at edge knowing that Ebola is a very lethal virus and it is very tough to treat and cure an infected person. But it has been seen that in countries were level of development is higher and health care is easily reached this disease can be fought.

Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River which is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. There are five identified ebola virus species: Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus); Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus); Taï Forest virus (Taï Forest ebolavirus); and the Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus). The fifth, Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus), causes disease in nonhuman primates. There have been ebola outbreaks in Africa starting in 1976 and lasting until 2016. These outbreaks have occurred as a result of human to human contact with bodily fluids which happens mostly during funerals of the deceased and population migration between countries. Patterns between outbreaks could potentially

Thousands have died and many are in danger from the effects of Ebola. In 2013, the pestilent virus began in Guinea where it then meandered into Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. The African countries are now facing challenges to fight and prevent the malaise. The alarming death rate is forcing the region into a state of crisis. The affected countries are striving for a cure, however, the issue remains incorrigible. “In addition, as a number of these countries are quite poor, aid and health

Ebola Virus is a serious transmitted disease by both humans and animals. The disease first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in Nzara, Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the virus received its name. Ebola Virus is a member of the negative stranded RNA viruses known as filoviruses. There are currently, five different strains of the Ebola Virus including, Zaire (EBOV), Sudan (SUDV), Bundibuguyo (BDBV), Taï Forest (TAFV) and Reston (RESTV). Each of the strains of the virus are very closely related including Reston which only effects animals. Yet, Ebola Zaire is the most highly virulent subtype, often leading to death. All of the different types of the virus are extremely dangerous and often cause death if untreated.

The FRONTLINE documentary, Outbreak, tells the story of the Ebola outbreak of 2014. They trace the disease way back to where the very first cases of it were scene. The outbreak of ebola originated in the West African country of Guinea. It quickly begins to spread to other countries like Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The spreading was a result of individuals who contracted the disease moving and traveling across Africa. Many of these countries believe that they could control the disease at a small-scale, but they surely underestimated the severity of the outbreak. As more and more cases arose, and the disease spread even within the hospitals and quarantine sites, it seemed liked there was no resolution. With so many unanswered questions and no solution

Every illness begins at a single source that can rapidly spread to susceptible individuals who are completely unaware of what is occurring before them. This infection sparks a chain of events that can quickly transform a small illness into an epidemic. On March 25, 2014 the World Health Organization(WHO) announced the outbreak of a new strain of the Ebola virus disease with 86 suspected cases[15]. From this point onward, constant updates have been documented, and until the end of November 2014 the condition grew in number and prevalence[7]. With additional efforts and protocols instituted by organizations such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus began to fall until the present day. Fortunately, a pharmaceutical company

In class we got a chance to discuss Ebola in the US and in Africa. As known, the US certainly have less cases and deaths due to Ebola in comparison to countries all over Africa. In terms of the reading in addition to the lecture by Haneefa Saleem, the class learned about what is the Ebola virus and its history, the affect it has on a person and their community in addition to how the world has perceived this virus. Thankfully, the US does not have to go through the effects of living in an Ebola epidemic because of the certain precautions taken when a case arise and the steps taken further for primary and secondary prevention. Unfortunately, this is not the case in Africa. There are always new cases of Ebola arises in different parts of Africa and it still continues to be a threat

Also, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention lists Ebola as a Category A Bioterrorism Agent, making it’s prevention and/or care of the upmost priority (Levine, Tapia, Hill, & Sow, 2014). The chance of perishing from the disease differs depending on several different factors. These include but are not limited to, density of population, healthcare infrastructure, and financial resources (Seppa, 2014). Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, the countries in Western Africa most heavily hit by Ebola, have dense populations, poor healthcare infrastructure and a lack of financial resources (Seppa, 2014). Additionally, none have dealt with the Ebola virus before, resulting in only two-trained health care workers for every 55 patients (Seppa, 2014). That ratio would be more balanced if health care workers did not abandon their post, likely due to fear, because about 10% of the deaths in this current epidemic are health care workers that were infected while treating infected people. The World Health Organization declared the current West African Ebola epidemic an international health emergency (Seppa,

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.

The Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has spread across several West African countries, adding a significant medical and financial burden to their healthcare systems and economies. The virus has the potential to spread and efforts to halt its progression are challenged by already struggling economies and healthcare systems. The EVD epidemic started in resource-constrained settings and caused thousands of fatalities. However, given population mobility, international travel and an increasingly globalized economy, the recent EVD epidemic has the potential to reoccur and evolve into a global pandemic [1]. Struggling health systems in West African countries pose a significant challenge to contain future EVD epidemics and to reduce its causes and effects.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%. It belongs to the Filoviridae family (filovirus) and is commonly found in several African countries. Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared irregularly in Africa.

Ebola is defined as a virus that causes severe bleeding, organ failure, and can lead to death (Mayo Clinic). Ebola was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (CDC). It was previously known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever and is a very rare and deadly disease caused by infection with a strain of the Ebola virus (CDC). The Ebola virus has a 50% to 90% fatality rate (Visual Science Company). In 2014, there were only 6 cases in the U.S (Mayo Clinic). It is most common in African countries and appears sporadically. The disease can occur in humans and nonhuman mammals, such as monkeys, bats, and apes (CDC). There are five different identified species of the Ebola virus and all belong to the genus Ebolavirus. Four of the species are known to cause disease in humans: Ebolavirus zaire; Ebolavirus sudan; Ebolavirus taī forest; and Ebolavirus bundibugyo. The fifth virus, Ebolavirus reston, has only infected

Ebola virus (EBOV) is considered to be one of the most belligerent contagious agents and has an ability to cause highly fatal hemorrhagic fever syndrome that results in human and non-human primate’s death (NHPs) during the days of exposure. The first notification of the virus was mentioned in the Ebola River valley in Zaire for the time of an outburst in 1976. Moreover, the outbursts have appeared in Africa over the following 27 years, with death rates that differ from 50 to 90%. In Central Africa, for the last three years outbursts have been recognized every year, the most recent of which proceeded in the Republic of the Congo with the amount of victims more than 125, according to the World Health Organization (“Ebola

These symptoms may not appear in individuals until 2-21 days after exposure to the disease, making it very difficult to contain. Moreover, EVD is hard to diagnose in patients given its non-specific symptoms and usually requires a hemorrhagic disease expert, which are rare among medical professionals in sub-Saharan Africa. As a result, Ebola, with a mortality rate of 80 percent, is often overlooked or confused with other diseases’ symptoms and not treated appropriately.