Health Case Study

It is vital to understand deadly viruses and their history in order to prevent future outbreaks. Ebola leaves very few clues after annihilating its victims, so it is incredibly important to analyze those clues. Ebola’s close relationship to monkeys contains key knowledge that could hold the secret to its success. Paying close attention to how Ebola is spreading and mutating could lead researchers to the answer for preventing the contraction of it. Discovering where and how the virus first emerged could lead to Ebola’s end.

The filovirus family encompasses two genera: Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus; note that filoviruses are zoonotic, and have recently been traced to some species of African bats (CDC 2014). Currently, there are four species of ebolavirus that cause disease in humans: Ebola virus, Sudan virus, Tai Forest virus, and Bundibugyo virus (CDC 2015 B, 1). For the purposes of this scenario, Ebola virus will be the agent of focus and use. Symptoms of Ebola virus infection range from common illness characteristics, such as fever and fatigue, to the more detrimental characteristics of unexplained bleeding, vomiting, diarrhea, and body pains; symptoms can appear anywhere from two days to three weeks after exposure (CDC 2015 B, 1). Transmission of infection occurs through direct contact between an individual’s mucous membranes or broken skin and body fluids of an infected person (CDC 2015 A). Body fluids can include sweat, saliva, blood, semen, and urine, amongst several others. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that “Although … the viruses display some capability of infection through small-particle aerosols, airborne spread among humans has not been clearly demonstrated”

At your request I have reviewed the Boards electronic case folder in the above-referenced matter, paying particular attention to the resumption of treatment in 2017.

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.

Having an increase in medication errors is evidence that change is needed. Patient safety takes priority in the care of a patient. Safety is part of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. If safety of a patient isn’t met first, the patient can have poor outcomes during their recovery. Patients experiencing adverse reactions from medication errors not only affects their safety, but can become a financial burden on them. If a patient has an adverse reaction that affects their health/illness, they may need to stay hospitalized longer, increasing their hospitalization cost. Increase in medication errors is never a good situation, but in order to decrease the errors, Sarah must implement change. Change will help improve

There are numerous viruses that society can contract, but one that has scientists talking today is Ebola. When Ebola is mentioned, we immediately think of one particular virus, but this fearless disease is in fact one of five species: Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Zaire

They have tested positive for the virus and do not themselves suffer any symptoms. It has been suggested infected fruit bats drop half eaten fruits that become contaminated with virus-laden saliva; primates such as gorillas or chimpanzees may feed on these and thus become infected. Transmission to humans may have occurred therefore from the handling by humans of infected primate carcasses. The virus is transmitted through contact with infected bodily fluids such as vomit, blood and feces. Infected individuals will become infectious once they present symptoms that generally appear after 10 to 21 days of incubation. This short incubation period and a high mortality rate together with the fact the disease appears in isolated places ensures outbreaks are generally confined to specific areas. Outbreaks tend to occur mainly due to misdiagnosis, the disease being confused with malaria, dysentery or influenza that all share the same symptoms and are prevalent in the parts of Africa where Ebola is also present. This means necessary precautions are not followed at medical centers and the virus is given an opportunity to spread through contact with contaminated hospital equipment or poorly managed infected bodily fluids. Other sources of human transmission include burial ceremonies where people may be in close contact with a contaminated dead victim. Other human bodily

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) was initially discovered in 1976; which originated from the Ebola River Valley in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). EVD is a severe, often fatal disease affecting humans, and nonhuman primates. Outbreaks occur in Africa affecting mostly the central and western portions of the continent. Formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, but the recent outbreak illustrates viruses’ ability to manifest itself without hemorrhaging. While EVD can be a deadly disease, its spread can be stymied rather quickly with properly trained, and well equipped personnel, effective disposal of dead bodies, and changes in burial practice.

Ebola hosts include humans, non-human primates, and fruit bats. Due to the multiple hosts, Ebola is very hard to control. Ebola can be transmitted to humans through spillover events, that occur when hunting or preparing the meat of an infected animal. Therefore, avoid hunting and consuming the meats of possible hosts of Ebola. Ebola can also be transmitted human-to-human. Transmission of Ebola from human-to-human occurs when a healthy individual comes into contact with the bodily fluids of an Ebola infected person. Transmission may even occur when the sperm or breastmilk of an Ebola survivor is passed to another person. As a result, contact with a person infected with Ebola, living or deceased should be avoided (CDC, 2016).

Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family have been reported to be natural hosts of the Ebola virus. From there it has been introduced into the human population through the contact between blood, secretions and other bodily fluids of other infected animals such as gorillas, Chimpanzees and fruit bats. It is spread through direct human-to-human contact through broken skin or mucous and also other surfaces that have come in contact with the infected individuals bodily fluids. People who work in the health care department frequently become infected whilst treating patients

The Ebola virus host has not been determined. The host was initially thought to be rodents but after experimentation then was quickly denied. Experiments have found that bats infected with the virus usually do not die, and therefore researchers believed that the bats are more likely to be the natural reservoir host. According to Aftab A. Ansari (2014), "Ebola viruses are enveloped non-segmented negative strand RNA viruses of 19kb in length belonging to the family Filoviridae" (p.1). Ebola is a generic term used to refer to a group belonging to the fiber virus which is the family of Filoviridae and genus is Ebola virus. Ebola virus causes humans and primates to becomes highly infectious, and the virus has a mortality rate as high as 50% as WHO Website (2014) as described. The cause of death for this virus is a stroke, or heart attack, or low blood capacity shock, or multiple organ failure. Ebola is the world’s most deadly viral hemorrhagic fever, which has similar symptoms as the Marburg

The environment: Ebola is exclusively spread through the exchanging of bodily fluids. The virus is not airborne. However, recent research has suggested links between rising global temperatures and the spread of disease. In Africa, rapid environmental changes characterize the region, as do high temperatures, allowing Ebola a more suitable environment to spread. In addition, messy or poor environments are much more susceptible to rapid spread of infection.

Remote forested areas: This environment provided the means of animal to human transmission of Ebola, since animals and humans cohabit the area, it is inevitable that a human would come in contact with an infected animal (bats and primates) which serves as a reservoir for the virus.

After suffering a personal injury, the last thing you want to do is travel from one establishment to the next to receive the various treatments necessary to help you recover: For this reason, we have a variety of medical professionals available at our personal injury clinic. We have brought these medical professionals together at a single location as a means to make your recovery as simple as possible.

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?