Free Essay

Ebola

In:

Submitted By gitaukariuki
Words 1883
Pages 8
Name:
Professor:
Title:
Date of Submission:
Origin and Spread Ebola
Background
According to WHO, Ebola which is a serious, acute illness if untreated is very fatal (WHO.Int). Ebola virus disease first appearance was in two simultaneous outbreaks back in 1976. One was in Yambuku in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the other in Nzara, Sudan. The name Ebola sprout from Yambuku neighbors a river known as Ebola River. In 2014, the first case was notified in March which is the most recent and is still a current outbreak in the West of Africa. Ideally, this is the most complex and largest Ebola outbreak since the 1976 first appearance. The numbers of deaths are the highest (WHO.Int). The spread began in Guinea before spreading to the bordering nations including Liberia and Sierra Leone, then to Nigeria through one traveller on air, and to Senegal through on traveller on land.
Ebola hemorrhagic fever also the Ebola virus disease or simply Ebola is a disease of primates including humans whose cause is Ebola viruses. Fever, headaches, muscle pain and sore throats are the initial signs and symptoms that develop between two days and three weeks upon contracting the virus. Decreased function of the kidney and liver then follow in addition to rash, diarrhea and vomiting. At this time, it is likely to observe both external and internal bleeding. The risk of death in relation to Ebola is significantly high. Killings between 25% and 90% are recorded of those infected which extends to average at 50% (Prevention CDC). The reason is that, there is significantly low blood pressure from loss of fluids. Upon the appearance of the symptoms, the deaths typically follow in 6-16 days.
Ebola Causes
The major Ebola viruses that in humans are five, namely; Sudan Virus(SUDV), Zaire Ebola Virus(EBOV), Reston Virus(RESTV), Tai Forest Virus(TAFV) and the Bundibugyo Virus(BDBV). Zaire Ebola Virus is the virus responsible for most outbreaks including the events in West Africa. The Reston Virus on the other hand is thought to only cause the disease in other primates and not in humans (Prevention CDC). The viruses listed have a close relation with Marburg viruses.
Scientists believe that, the hosts of Ebola are bats of the Pteropodidae family and especially the fruit bat. The disease gets to the human race through organs, secretions, and other bodily fluids including blood of animals such as fruit bats, monkeys, porcupines, chimpanzees and forest antelopes coming into direct contact. These animals are common to find either dead or alive in the rain forests. The transmission of the disease has been a growing concern amongst people especially with caution due to the outbreak in West Africa. The only way in which Ebola can be spread between people is when one comes into direct contact with the body fluids or blood of an individual who has already developed the disease’s symptoms.
In treating patients who have either been confirmed or are suspected of having the Ebola Virus Disease, many health-care workers have been infected with the disease. This especially occurs when there is failure in sticking to the strict policies and practices in getting close contact with the patients. It is critical to note that Ebola could be transmitted to mourners when their contact with the dead body is direct. Individuals’ infectious nature still remains as the body fluids such as breast milk and semen still contain the virus.
The cases of airborne transmission are yet to be authenticated. In the outbreaks, the airborne transmission has been recorded in strict conditions in the laboratory in which the virus has been spread from pigs to primates. The case of primate to primate has not been observed. Mosquitoes, other insects, water and food other than bush meat have not recorded transmission of the Ebola virus. The airborne transmission between humans has not been common as the humans record low levels of the virus in the respiratory system and more so the lungs. The bottom line in the cause is that, contact is the main contributor of the transmission.
Currently, WHO reports that the Ebola reported deaths stands at 6,678 as of 6th December. The reported cases are 17,834. It was that the numbers may keep rising as the month progresses especially in the month of December. That then poses a question as to why it has been so difficult to control and prevent further transmissions. The cause of this is that the affected nations have expressed difficulties in controlling the epidemic. The reasons are the protests by the people towards the government and hospitals, high poverty levels thus limited access to running water and soap, reliance on cultural practices and traditional medicine, and less equipped and poorly organized health care systems.
Consequences of Ebola
The deaths, travel advisory barriers and warnings to affected nations, quarantines, tension and fear are some of the direct consequences that have been observed. However, there are key concerns that still exist. For that case, it would be critical to identify and analyze some of them. To begin with, it would be strategic to consider the impact and the price that the children in West Africa have had to pay.
Unicef notes that, one-fifth of the 14,000 Ebola victims are children. The statistics do not end there. The issue of losing their parents, school cancellations, stigmatization and daily lives disruptions have all bombarded their lives (SAPA). They are surrounded by death and thus their lives have been turned upside down. Some children are held up in quarantine centers where they have absolutely no idea whether their parents are alive. In Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone more than five million children are not in school in addition to the fact that they are not allowed to play outside. That is a dull lifestyle especially at their age in which their academic life will be delayed and their health affected negatively. Further still, the affected countries have shifted their focus towards the Ebola epidemic. Therefore the health system have recorded dramatic drop in relation to the immunization services for the children. The Malaria cases in the region have also increased which means the children are faced by massive troubles and concerns (SAPA).
Travel advisories and quarantines have been lifted. While this is a preventive measure, there have been positive and negative impacts. For instance, there has been control in airports where individuals diagnosed with Ebola have been identified and the prevention of spread has been successful (Kaplan). To a larger extent, the travel advisories are not taken well especially by the African nations. The West and mostly the US has been advising the citizens on precautions when visiting most countries and has progressed to mentions nations such as Tanzania and Kenya which have recorded no incidence of Ebola. Such nations have responded angrily mostly highlighting misinforming and introduction of unnecessarily threats and tension. Further still, the individuals leaving the affected nations have had to be tested and quarantined in their next destinations especially through air travel. There are cases in which, the health care persons upon returning to their nations expect to be treated passionately for their heroic works in West Africa. That is not the case however; they are quarantined and spend some time in the quarantine area. To them, they expect respect for the hard work that they have put and their defense for humanity (Kaplan).
The economic aspect of West Africa has paid a great deal in relation to Ebola. Most hotel rooms are empty, the game and tents lay. The lions and the elephants have no tourists to pay them a visit. The tour operators across Africa have thus been the biggest droppers in business for as long as they can remember. Several European and American tour agents have quit offering the services to Africa (The Economist). The decreased tourist attraction has extended from West Africa to South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and Tanzania. Ideally it is critical to note that most West Africa links to Europe through their massive airlines in addition to the aspect of close proximity. The airlines have all suspended their flights until there are correctional measures to attend to Ebola. No one predicts when the malady will be overcome. The epidemic which is surrounded with massive ignorance will affect the tourism industry wish is valued at $170 billion yearly (The Economist). It is an epidemic ignorance to an extent that some African nations such as Morocco declined to host the 2015 African Cup of Nations for the fear of Ebola introduction in their nations. Tourism and Football are great assets in Africa, when impacted upon; there will be massive economic drifts.
The current global concern on Ebola outbreak in West Africa is in the fifth month and the consequences keep on escalating. Director-General Margaret Chan, WHO, warned that the outbreak has been moving a bit faster in comparison to the control efforts (McKay). She added that, if the situation deteriorates even further catastrophic consequences that include socioeconomic disruption, high risk of spread to other countries as well as multiple deaths will be noted. People in the affected nations who have been victims either directly or indirectly have made reporting impossible. They mostly do not report the cases for the fear of being quarantined (McKay). They prefer home care where they access their loved ones in the last days of their lives. That is a massive challenge that the governments have to dig into.
Conclusion
The treatments including vaccines against Ebola are yet to be established fully. Currently, most activities target to contain and control the Ebola cases. The approach seeks to eliminate and minimize the spread and thus the deaths. There should be an integrated international response in fighting the disease. Contact tracing and surveillance will minimize spread through early and correct diagnosis. Every one person who gets to contact with the virus would thus be noted. In addition, there should be investment both in time and finances towards community awareness. For this, the protective measures at individual levels should be highlighted. Lessons such as washing hands with soap are some of the lessons that should be taught. The safety and preventive practices to health workers should be practiced keenly and developed strategically.

Work Cited
Kaplan, Rebecca. 'NIH Expert Warns Of "Negative" Consequences From Ebola Quarantines'. Cbsnews.com. N.p., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. 9 Dec. 2014. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nih-expert-warns-of-negative-consequences-from-ebola-quarantines/
McKay, Betsy. 'WHO Warns Of 'Catastrophic' Consequences Of Ebola'. WSJ. N.p., 2014. Web. http://www.wsj.com/articles/who-warns-of-catastrophic-consequences-of-ebola-1406903897
Prevention, Centers. 'Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever | CDC'. Cdc.gov. N.p., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/
SAPA,. 'UN: Indirect Consequences Of Ebola Strongly Affect Children'. News24. N.p., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/UN-Indirect-consequences-of-Ebola-strongly-affect-children-20141104
The Economist,. 'The Ignorance Epidemic'. The Economist. N.p., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21632641-virus-claiming-new-victimsafrican-tourism-and-football-ignorance
Who.int,. 'WHO | Ebola Virus Disease'. N.p., 2014. Web. 9 Dec. 2014. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/

Similar Documents

Free Essay

Ebola

...Paper 1 Ebola Ebola first appeared in 1976 in 2 separate incidents which occurred at the same time. The first one in Nzara, Sudan the other in Yambuka Democratic Republic of Congo in a village near the Ebola river, from which the disease gets its name. The reason why Ebola is spreading so frequently now is because the latest case have started in Guinea und has spread into Liberia and Sierra Leone, It is stilled being carried by persons from one to the other so it has not changed. The Human is being infected by coming into contact with an animal that has the disease which then infects that person who then in turns infects other people he comes into contact with. The ways that an infected person infects another person is from direct contact through broken skin or mucous membrane with the blood or other bodily fluids or secretions of the infected person. The incubation period range from 2 to 21 days. I now from personal experience that the Military has a 21 day incubation period for all those that come back from the West Africa Region, but it is not on the same post where you are stationed but on one of the 6 posts that are specially set up for this, this areas are like you normal place of duty or home, you are there just to be checked if you have the disease as you go about your daily routine. People that are exposed to Ebola are encouraged to seek out medical attention right away so that they can get proper...

Words: 340 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Ebola

...kasl;dka;s da;sdlas;dasnfks Dasdmsakdmlasdas;das Dasd a;sdlas Transmission It is thought that fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest. Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids. Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD. This has occurred through close contact with patients when infection control precautions are not strictly practiced. Burial ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola. People remain infectious as long as their blood and body fluids, including semen and breast milk, contain the virus. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness. Symptoms of Ebola virus disease The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms is 2 to 21 days. Humans are...

Words: 739 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Ebola

...EBOLA VIRUS (EBOV)1 Ebola Virus (EBOV) Alaina White Microbiology 11/04/2014 EBOLA VIRUS (EBOV)2 Ebola Virus (EBOV) The Ebola virus causes a serious illness, that causes haemorrhagic fever in humans and animals which, if it is not treated in time is often fatal. Diseases that are fatal like Ebola, affect the body's vascular system, which makes it hard for the blood to circulte through the body. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first notification of the ebola virus was mentioned in the Ebola River valley in Zaire for the time of an outburst in 1976 (Olival et al., 2013). Researchers claim that the virus is zoonotic (animal-borne), with 4 out of 5 subtypes that happen in animal hosts close to Africa (MacNeil et al., 2010). Literature Review It has been proven by scientists that the Ebola virus can be transferred from one human beng to another by means of bodily contact. The common geographic territory that ia mostly influenced by divergent subtypes of the Ebola virus is Central Africa, especially the cities of Zaire, Sudan, and Gabon (Chepurnov, Bakulina, Dadaeva, Ustinova, & Chepurnova, 2009). Ebola virus infection runs its course from 14 to 21 days. Firstly, the infection can be identified with symptoms that are uncommon for the flu, including malaise, fever, and muscles pain. With the progress of infection, patients experience acute bleeding and coagulation abnormalities such as a rash, gastrointestinal bleeding (Chepurnov, Bakulina, Dadaeva...

Words: 1283 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

Ebola

...while avoiding measures that will create unnecessary interference with international travel or trade. Discuss this view. (15 marks) Ebola was first detected in 1976 in Sudan and Zaire (named after the Ebola River in Zaire). The first outbreak of Ebola – Sudan – infected over 284 people, having a mortality rate of 53%. A few months later, the second Ebola virus emerged from Yambuku in Zaire – the virus being called Zaire – this virus had the highest mortality rate of any of the Ebola viruses, infected 318 people. There are 3 more strains of Ebola, including the strain that is now being spread. This strain being spread now is Zaire and it is killing several people. The Ebola outbreak that broke out in West Africa is spreading faster than efforts to control it. On the 1st of August the virus has claimed to have lost 728 lives in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and statistics at this time has claimed that Ebola kills up to 90% of those infected. This virus is spread by contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, organs – or contaminated environments. Patients will have a much stronger change of survival if they receive early treatment. Initial flu like symptoms can lead to external haemorrhaging from the eyes and gums, and internal bleeding that can lead to organ failure. Currently there is no vaccine to prevent, or a treatment to cure Ebola. However it has been rumoured that we are on track to finding them. There will be trial dates set near the end of 2014 and into the early...

Words: 321 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Ebola

...about an emergent disease facing the world. Ebola has affected many countries in the world including United States of America. It has brought about many sociological factors that influenced the world to come together and work together and work together to fight the pandemic disease. United States and Britain come together raised money and funded my research institutions in America and in Africa to fight the disease. Therefore, I will take you into a journey and explain what Ebola is and how it is affected the world according to my research based on this disease. I hope you will learn how it affected the social factors in the society, for example, fatality rates and how the world society was affected in terms of health, financial constraints. This research paper is dedicated to the restless efforts of scientists, and government in the United States and Britain for their great contribution to fight Ebola. To the courageous doctors who flew to Africa and risked their lives in order to help the people in West Africa. Ebola virus disease (EVD) was also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, it is severe, often fatal illness in humans. It is transmitted from wild animals and spreads to human population via direct human transmission. For example, it can also be transmitted through body fluids, objects and fruits from primates Also, Ebola firstly appeared in Sudan, Nzara and in the Republic of Congo in a village near Ebola River, thus its name evolved. Currently, it...

Words: 1841 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Ebola

...Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Some of the most deadly killers can’t even be seen with the human eye. These microscopic predators are known as viruses. In my report, I will explain about one of the most deadly killing viruses, the Ebola virus. Ebola was named after the Ebola River in Zaire, which in 1976 is where the virus had first developed. The first outbreak infected over 284 people. Just a few months later there was a second outbreak from Yambuku, Zaire, which infected about 318 people. Ebola’s natural source was never identified, even with the astounding effort of experienced and dedicated researchers. The third strain of Ebola was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia. The most recent outbreak of Ebola started with a pregnant woman from Ikanamongo Village that had butchered a wild animal. She became sick and reported to a private clinic in Isaka Village then later died on August 11, 2014, meaning that several healthcare workers had been exposed to the Ebola virus. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest ever recorded in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. Although, most sources said the risk of Ebola coming to the United States was very low, there has recently been a case of Ebola in Dallas, Texas. Officials say they can keep it contained from spreading any further. As the Ebola virus travels through the human body, it begins damaging the immune system and the organs. It causes the clotting of blood to stop. If...

Words: 988 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Ebola

...1. What is Ebola? * Ebola is a disease of humans and other animals caused by Ebola viruses. It is called Ebola Virus Disease/EVD or Ebola Hemorrhagic fever/EHF or simply Ebola. 2. Where does the 2014 Ebola outbreak take place? * “The Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the world’s deadliest to date” says a BBC News. EVD outbreaks occur intermittently in Tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The largest out break to date is the 2014 ongoing epidemic in West Africa. The outbreak began in Guinea in February and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. 3.  How many Ebola patients and Ebola deaths have been reported across the countries inside and outside of Africa since the 2014 Ebola outbreak? * The scale of Ebola outbreak appears to be “vastly underestimated” says the UN’s health agency. As of January 2015, this outbreak has 21,724 reported cases resulting in 8641 deaths. 4. How can the cultural practices in the West African countries spread Ebola? * Cultural practices of burial ceremonies where mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person do increase the threat of spreading Ebola if the deceased was infected. Other cultural practices that give rise to human to human contact, through broken skin or mucous membrane, through sharing bedding and clothing. 5. How long does a patient start showing a sign of the disease after becoming infected, describe early and final signs and symptoms? * Signs and symptoms...

Words: 863 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Ebola

...officials from Miami-Dade health discussed how to manage a universal health threat on Ebola. There was a scare that was triggered by a police response. According Dr. Carlos Migoya who is the “chief executive of Jackson Health System”, Miami Dade’s public hospital network. “Every hour of every day, we are ready,” he said. To validate how prepared Jackson was, physicians demonstrated the protective green fluid- resistance gown, clear goggles, latex gloves and a face mask, shower cap and slipped covering on shoes in front of the media to ensure the prevent-ness and the outbreaks of Ebola. This virus is spread through direct contact with once bodily fluids. According to physician Abdul Memon who is the “chief medical officer for disaster and emergency preparedness states”, “ if a patent is vomiting or the patient has diarrhea, you wont get it on you”. Steps of Patient suspected having Ebola: They will be put in a pressurized room for three days while during medical staff doing blood work. If the first test shows negative, there will be a second test just for precautionary reason. Gov. Rick Scott: He made an announcement on Monday that his “ office is working with Texas officials to learn from their Ebola response, and Florida agencies have held conferences with state airport and seaport leaders about the preparedness plans”. State Health Agencies: A) Requested for additional Ebola testing kits (30) from the CDC. B) Ordered about 100 units of extra high-level protective...

Words: 546 - Pages: 3

Free Essay

Ebola

...Video: “EBOLA” Reflection Paper In the year 1976, Ebola climbed out of its unknown hiding place, and caused the death of 340 people. In 2014, Ebola once again had climbed out of its hiding place and caused an outbreak in West Africa. A total of 2,000 deaths and thousands of cases documented by the end of 2014 that left all in panic. Feared gripped upon victim’s faces, and uncertainty tortured the minds of all on this planet including myself as a medical staff nurse. There had been more transmission between humans in the past four months than there had ever in the past 500 or more years concerning this deadly Ebola virus. As the infections transmitted and multiplied, it evolved so fast that any single mode vaccine could very well not contain it. As the body count tallies where up, it’s was beginning to appear like Ebola may be some kind of population reduction scheme as we all saw and the video portrayed. The people of Zaire where waiting outside of clinics, churches and in their homes for a treatment of this horrible disease, but there was no cure or vaccine at hand. Seeing this video and watching the news on TV made me feel helpless as a medical staff individual. Fear was upon us at hospitals, as we forced to watch people die on a daily basis thru the media, hoping that they would be saved from the violent death of the Ebola virus. Hospital nationwide where building isolation centers and procedures for cases appearing in the United States. Scientist...

Words: 1666 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

Ebola

...International Effort to Combat Ebola By : Karinna – FE – Management – 2014 karinnali@yahoo.com / 081282689585 The disease that sent the world into frenzy used to be HIV AIDS, now, we have a new source of people anxiety, Ebola. There’s practically no one in this whole world that hasn’t heard about Ebola. The first Ebola case happened in 1976, simultaneously in 2 places, one in a village near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the other in a remote area of Sudan. Since then, Ebola has not been noticed by the international world until the current outbreak happened in March 2014 in West Africa Now, the number of death caused by ebola has reach over 4.000 and still counting. The countries with the highest death number caused by ebola are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The disease, however, has now spread to other countries out of the Africa continent. United States of America got it’s first ebola case earlier this month. Thomas Eric Duncan travelled from Liberia to USA on September 20 and died on October 8, just a week after he was diagnosed with ebola. The extremly high death rate, up to 90%, has made many countries take precaution to prevent eloba to spread or infect their country. One of US airport, JFK, located in New York, has started to do inspection towards passengers and crew arriving from the three countries with most patients suffering from ebola. JFK is now doing health screening and ask the passengers series of questions about wheter they have...

Words: 814 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Ebola

...March 26, 2014 the Zaire ebolavirus(EBOV) was confirmed to be the cause of the outbreak in West Africa. Up until 2014 this species had only been located in Gaban, Republic of the Congo, Central Africa, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. EBOV is considered the most deadly of the five known species of Ebola, holding true with approximately 11,000 deaths of approximately 28,000 reported cases from the start of the outbreak in March of 2014 to the present. Unfortunately there is no magic pill or cure that will destroy the Ebola virus, however with rapidly advancing technology a vaccine may be available within the year. The Ebola virus “was first identified in 1976 by Professor Peter Piot.” (Boulton, 2014, p. 988) Sudan cotton workers contracted the Ebola virus presumably from bats and when treated at the local hospital infecting many health care workers and then spreading the disease to nearby villages. This species was labeled the Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV). During the same year a few months later, in Zaire, a teacher was infected by eating bush meat, once treated at a neighboring hospital the disease spread due to re-using of contaminated needles. This species was labeled Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV). In 1989 another species was discovered, Reston ebolavirus (RESTV). Monkeys imported from the Philippines’ arrived in Virginia infected with the virus. Yet another species emerged in 1994. During a necropsy, an anthropologist was infected with Tai Forest ebolavirus (TAFV). The last species...

Words: 2464 - Pages: 10

Free Essay

Ebola

...According to the Ebola Response Roadmap (2014), their objective is to halt the spread of Ebola within 6 to 9 months; ultimately preventing the Ebola virus from being spread internationally. Due the rapid transmission rate of Ebola in Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone, WHO launched an Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Response Plan on July 31, 2014. It has been reported that over 3,000 people have been infected with the Ebola Virus and 1,400 people have died; many of them being volunteer healthcare workers. As a result of this, the national authorities in conjunction with WHO and other partners have increased control measures to keep the virus contained. Although there is a great effort being made to contain the Ebola virus, the record outbreak is still being transmitted at an alarming rate. The Ebola Response Roadmap outlines three major objectives: to attain nationwide coverage with corresponding Ebola response in the countries that have a vast transmission rate, to employ immediate response teams to areas with contained transmissions and/or with primary cases, and to promptly detect and respond to all Ebola cases in a timely manner (Ebola Response Roadmap, 2014). The Emergency Response Framework outlines three levels for responding to an outbreak. A Level 1 emergency is a single country or multiple countries with a minimal threat which requires a minimal scale response. A Level 2 emergency is single or multiple countries with a moderate threat which requires a moderately scaled...

Words: 451 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Ebola

...Student’s name Professor’s name Course Date Ebola The disease was first reported in Zaire (present Democratic Republic of Congo), thus its former Zaire Ebola virus. Many people have succumbed to the Ebola virus as a result of Ebola virus disease. Just like other Ebola viruses, the Ebola virus (EBOV), result in serious hemorrhagic fever in humans and it has been the cause of thousands of deaths especially in West Africa. But compared to other viruses, the Ebola virus has the highest mortality rate with an average of more than 80%. The fact that there have been numerous outbreak cases of the Ebola viruses explains the high levels. As a result of confusing it with malaria, Ebola cases were frequently treated with quinine. The first verified case of Ebola was reported on August, 1976 in Yambuku. (Team, p.223). The virus can also be transmitted through body fluids. The paper seeks to analyze Ebola in terms of origin, causes, symptoms and the preventive measures that should be taken. Apart from humans, Ebola has been found in other nonhuman primates such as monkeys and chimpanzees especially in Africa. But in other places such as the Philippines, the virus has been found in pigs. It, therefore, means that, on some occasions, the viruses is transmitted to humans from animals. People who butcher and eat infected animals in are at high risks of contracting the virus. Experts who have worked on infected animals have also been affected due to contact with the animal’s blood. Person...

Words: 2359 - Pages: 10

Premium Essay

Ebola

... Informational Reading : The Ebola Crisis Ebola. This virus has been in the news for quite a bit now, hasnt it? For those who dont really know about the Ebola virus, let me give you a brief, but precise explanation about it. The Ebola virus was first discovered in two African countries (Sudan and the Congo, then known as Zaire) in 1976. The affected reigon in Congo was near the Ebola River, which was how the virus got its name. Scientists believe the virus spread to humans who had contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected animals, including bats, monkeys, chimpanzees, gorillas, forest antelope and porcupines (Courtsey Of Washington Post). What I learned from this particular article about Ebola is that for one, this virus can disguise itself like the common cold. It says in the article, What Is Ebola and How Do People Catch It? Says that the symptoms can include: Sudden onset of fever Muscle Aches Weakness Sore Throat These symptoms are also followed by: Vomiting Diarrhea And a Rash However, if you have the common cold, this does not mean that you have Ebola! Unfortaunately, I also learned that as this malignant virus progresses in the victims body, the victim develop internal bleeding in the internal organs and on the outside openings of the body. I also think that this particular article is very important for people to read because it informs them like how it informed me about me about how Ebola can malevolently disguise itself...

Words: 395 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Ebola

...Ebola Virus Ebola is the virus that is currently discussed in the news today because of its deadly outcome and widespread outbreak on the southeastern Guinea communities in West Africa. First identified as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever, the Ebola disease is transported by wild animals yet spread also by human-to-human contact. Sun et al. (2014) stated in The Washington Post that this single virus may infect over 1.4 million people, is classified as an endemic, and could possibly affect other countries. Authors of the article noted that people were dying in the streets, the outbreak has surged past 5,800 people infected, and so far have been at least 2,800 deaths. Numbers related to the outbreak and subsequent deaths are rising daily. The New England Journal of Medicine (2014) stated the number of deaths related to Ebola is expected to increase by a thousand per week. According to the article, the citizens of Sierra Leone affected others at the rate of two to one. For every one person who becomes affected with the Ebola virus, then two other people in the population will become ill. The Guinea and Liberia communities are not affected at such an alarming rate, yet the virus is rapidly spreading. The World Health Organization (WHO) research team noted there are only a small percentage of treatments and vaccines for the virus that are able to treat the virus. The likelihood that the treatment would be available in large quantities is a small percentage. In West Africa, the...

Words: 536 - Pages: 3