Ebola is one of the most deadly diseases known to man. The mortality rate of Ebola ranges from 25% to 90% (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2010; Cowart, 2014). There is no cure for Ebola and no vaccine to prevent its spread (WHO, 2014; CDC, 2010; Cowart, 2014). The virus itself is spreads between organisms through bodily fluids, such as blood and vomit, which are shed by an infected individual (WHO, 2014; CDC, 2010). These fluids typically carry a large viral load, or number of cells that harbor the virus (WHO, 2014; CDC, 2010). The virus is spread when infectious bodily fluids come into contact with mucous membranes (WHO, 2014; CDC, 2010). As such, infection can occur when infectious fluids enter a cut, enter intravenously, or encounter mucous membranes, such as the eyes, nose, or mouth (WHO, 2014; CDC, 2010).
Ebola is so deadly, because it basically takes control over the body’s immune system (Cowart, 2014; Sullivan, Yan, and Nabel, 2003). Since Ebola targets the immune and vascular system, it pretty much targets all organs within the body (Cowart, 2014; Chan, 2014; Sullivan, Yan, and Nabel, 2003). According to Sullivan, Yan, and Nabel (2003), once the virus enters the body, it replicates at an accelerated rate overwhelming the body’s immune system. Upon infection with the virus, the virus invades the body’s monocytes and macrophages, which release cytokines that travel throughout a person’s vascular
The pathogen infects many cell types, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, hepatocytes, adrenal cortical cells, and epithelial cells. Because of the difficulty of performing clinical studies under outbreak conditions, almost all data on the pathogenesis of Ebola virus diseases have been obtained from laboratory experiments employing mice, guinea pigs, and a variety of nonhuman primates. Patients with Ebola virus disease typically have an abrupt onset of symptoms 8 to 10 days after exposure (range 2 to 21 days). The incubation period for the individual patient depends, in part, upon the type of exposure. Scientist follow guidelines recommended from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the management of patients who are known or suspected to be infected with Ebola virus. These recommendations include isolation of hospitalized patients with known or suspected Ebola virus disease and correct use and removal of recommended personal protective equipment. These patients are highly contaminated if it is true that they have the virus. If you do not follow all rules and guidelines for the safety of your immune system and body, it is possible you can become infected with the Ebola virus as well. (Up To
This is important because Ebola is a very deadly disease that directly attacks your immune system and causes internal bleeding. Ebola kills 6 out of 10 people and even though many more people die every year from malaria and the flu, ebola is a very serious disease that spreads pretty
In 2014, Ebola hemorrhagic fever caused an outbreak in West Africa that officially ended in 2016. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says, “Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus species” (“Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease)”). Ebola is caused when a person is in contact with an infected person’s blood or other body fluids. Prevention of contracting the disease include, not touching the dead body of an infected person, not touching body fluids of an infected person, avoiding places infected people are being treated, not touching bats or nonhuman primates
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
While Ebola is not an airborne virus, it can be transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s fluids, such as blood, urine, vomit, sweat, semen and sexual contact (Nevins, 2014). With these deadly symptoms and ease of transmission, the Ebola virus can quickly wipe out an entire community. Yet, scientists have found that the severity of the disease in humans varies widely, from rapid fatality to mild illness or even asymptomatic response, further complicating the ability to quickly identify infected patients and reduce the possibility of transmission (Kolata, 2014). Moreover, the virus has different strains and mutates according to the specific environmental conditions in which it exists (Peters et al., 1991).
The standard treatment for Ebola is still limited to supportive therapy as no vaccines are yet available for clinical use. The supportive therapy consists of balancing the patient’s fluids and electrolytes, maintaining the patient’s oxygen status and blood pressure, and treating the patient for any complicating infections. Treatment from the day the virus is contracted is important but extremely challenging due to the fact that Ebola is very difficult to diagnose in its early stages of infection. However, if a person has the early symptoms of Ebola and there is reason to believe that Ebola should be considered it is extremely important that the patient is isolated
As with any infectious disease, whether it originates from a virus, bacterium, or fungi, there is the possibility that it will become an epidemic. For centuries, deadly diseases have threatened to infect and possibly eradicate mankind. The Ebola virus, which causes an extremely fatal hemorrhagic fever, is considered to be one of the most aggressive contagions in the world. The Ebola virus is a member of a family of RNA viruses known as, “Filoviridae” and is composed of multiple distinct subspecies (Bausch et al. 2007). It causes Ebola Virus Disease, a fairly new disease that plagues multiple poor countries within Africa. The virus mainly attacks the lymphatic system, but also severely damages the reproductive and reticuloendothelial systems. The Ebola virus disease causes muscle pain, weakness, limited kidney and liver function and extreme blood loss due to failure of blood clotting.
got sick and died. This outbreak infected 318 with a death rate of 93% (Le
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.
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a virus transmitted from humans or animals through body fluids. It is transmitted by means of contact with infected blood, mucous membranes, semen and other secretions, therefore being skin lesions and sexual contact significant ways of transmission (Boulton, 2014). As a transmittable disease, progression of the virus had been thought to be linked to higher probabilities of transmission, and therefore safety of persons in contact with infected patients was in question (Yamin et al., 2015). A study conducted in Liberia in 2014 proved such hypothesis to be true and concluded that prompt and accurate isolation of infected patients was a safe method
The Ebola virus is the most feared virus of our time. What exactly is Ebola? Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic fever actually named after the River Ebola in Zaire, Africa, where it was first discovered. It belongs to a genus of ribonucleic viruses called filoviruses, under the family Filofiridae, which are characterized by their filament-like (thread-like) appearance with a little hook or loop at the end. Only five viruses exist in this family: the not-as-deadly Marburg, and the four Ebola strains: Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, Ebola Tai and Ebola Reston. The latter
It is contracted through broken skin, from an infected person's bodily fluids such as blood, mucus, and vomit. The disease is caused by one of the ebola virus, Ebola, Sudan, Bundibugyo, or the Tai Forest virus. Ebola works by entering a host’s cell and releasing a small viral RNA (Ribonucleic Acid). The RNA hijacks the cell’s DNA (Deoxynucleic Acid) to create more copies of the Ebola virus to infect other cells.
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 a nightmare virus that is known for its deadliness and with a ninety percent fatality rate it has certainly earned its reputation. The virus shows up with symptoms like influenza, aka the common cold, however the symptoms gradually or in some cases, take great turns for the worst. The virus overtakes its victims usually causing multi-organ failure resulting in death. There are rare cases where a victim can be treated, but it is only if the virus is caught early enough to treat the symptoms that may last for a few days to three weeks during which they remain contagious. Men can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to seven weeks after recovery. (Ebola 2) The World Health Organization website provides
As explained in my introduction Ebola is a virus which targets various parts of the body causing a critical sickness of fever, diarrhoea, vomiting and in severe cases bleeding. On 8 August 2014, the WHO declared Ebola a major public health concern. Soon after there were many cases reported in the US, Liberia, Australia and other varying countries.