...Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with symptoms such as fever and severe internal bleeding which can lead to organ shutdown. People can be exposed to the virus by direct contact of blood or secretions from the body. The Ebola virus came from several African countries. An “ Ebola” outbreak happened in Boston, December of 2014. Lee Gehrke an MIT professor had been working on a test for 2 years prior to the outbreak in MA. to determine which virus is Ebola or another virus so that they could find a way to stop the virus from spreading. He continued his research and work in developing a test, creating a $3 device that screens for the condition by sopping up a drop of blood from a finger prick and analyzing it in under...
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...EBOLA OUTBREAK INTRODUCTION An epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) is ongoing in West Africa. The outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013, but was not detected until March 2014, after which it spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. The outbreak is caused by the Zaire ebola virus, known simply as the Ebola virus (EBOV). It is the most severe outbreak of Ebola in terms of the number of human cases and deaths since the discovery of the virus in 1976, with the number of cases from the current outbreak now outnumbering the combined cases from all known previous outbreaks. Another outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed 13 people as of 26 August 2014, is believed to be unrelated to the West African outbreak. Initial outbreak in Guinea Researchers believe that the first human case of the Ebola virus disease leading to the 2014 outbreak was a 2-year-old boy who died 6 December 2013 in the village of Meliandou, Guéckédou Prefecture, Guinea. His mother, 3-year-old sister and grandmother then became ill with symptoms consistent with Ebola infection and died. People infected by those victims spread the disease to other village. On 19 March, the Ministry of Health acknowledged a local outbreak of an undetermined viral hemorrhagic fever; the outbreak, ongoing since February, had sickened at least 35 people and killed 23....
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...In 2014-2015 the largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease (Ebola) occurred in West African history. There were 28,646 diagnosed cases of Ebola reported in which 11,000 deaths were reported officially. In the initial months of the outbreak response were poorly coordinated and limited since there were little-known knowledge, attitudes, and practice related to Ebola. When responding to an outbreak public education and engagement of community is an important factor since it can be used to help stop an outbreak. In 2014 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) conducted a small-scale public knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) study using a small sample of Sierra Leone. Within less than one month in the study, the KAP study was an important tool used in 2014 by the Sierra Leone National Social Mobilisation Pillar, supported by Catholic Relief Service (CRS), and US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to inform public and community engagement strategies on Ebola prevention, control and treatment in Sierra Leone. As the outbreak widen the focus of the community was to improve the public knowledge, practice, and attitude toward Ebola until the help arrive. Such may include isolating infected patients, washing hands, handling...
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...EBOLA: Quarantine to control the outbreak One evening, as I sat on the couch relaxing from the stressful day I had; my eleven years old daughter came to me terrified saying, "mom I'm afraid, the Ebola is here". I immediately comforted her while silently worrying about the virus to myself. That made me pursue information about the virus and learn how to protect my family from the outbreak. Ebola is an awful virus which has many symptoms among bleeding causing death. There is currently no vaccine or cure for Ebola, the cost to treat the virus can be very high, and many medical centers may be ill-equipped to handle Ebola patients. After learning how deadly the virus can be that's when I decided that anyone entering the country from affected countries should be on a mandatory quarantine for twenty-one days to ensure they are Ebola free before possibly exposing any Americans to the virus. Ebola, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River; thus how the virus was named. Since its discovery outbreaks have occurred intermittently of the years in Africa. The natural host of the Ebola virus remains unknown to this day. Although, many researchers believe that the virus likely came from bats. There are a total of five strains of the virus; four of which are known to infect humans. Nonhuman primates such as monkey and gorillas can be infected by all five strains. According to the CDC, scientist believe that the first patient becomes infected...
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...Ebola Outbreak Brings CDC Flaws to Light Kim Wereszenski COM/215 February 2, 2015 William Morgan Ebola Outbreak Brings CDC Flaws to Light The US Ebola outbreak of 2014 brings to light flaws in decisions and processes followed by the Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC). After the break out of the Ebola virus in the US, American citizens have lost faith in the CDC. This biological event showed the CDC was ill prepared. The CDC, Founded by Dr. Joseph Mountin in 1964, was developed to combat the increasing spread of malaria. In 1964, it was a much smaller business with less than 400 employees. Over the years, Americans grew to trust the CDC’s processes and procedures. According to "Centers for Disease Control and Prevention" (2013), “Today, CDC is the nation′s premier health promotion, prevention, and preparedness agency and a global leader in public health.” America started to lose faith in the CDC when the Ebola arrived in the US. Hospitals were not properly trained to handle an outbreak of this nature, stocked with protective gear, or taking proper precautions when encountering a potential Ebola patient. In 2014, the Ebola virus was out of control and spreading in West Africa. This heightened spread should have prompted the CDC to increase awareness and protocols in the US, yet nothing was done to protect or manage the situation. “When the outbreak in West Africa began, the CDC said that any hospital in the US with single rooms can safely care for patients...
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...Ebola is quickly spreading across the western part of the African continent, having claimed over two thousand lives already and infecting more and more people every second. The Ebola virus originated in South Sudan breaking out for the first time in 1976. The World Health Organization (WHO) managed to terminate the Ebola virus. In the various outbreaks around Africa that later occurred, it was not of massive concern. Early 2014, Ebola broke out once again, only on a much larger scale. The World Health Organization was slow to react, thinking this outbreak was of a same scale as the previous outbreaks. Now Ebola is not only a concern in West Africa, but also around the world. There are several factors that could have lead to the extensive outbreak of the virus. The world now has a population of over seven billion people, meaning the disease is now not only easily transmitted from person to person but also from country to country and possibly even from continent to continent. This is due to the major travel developments all around the world. Being an area of third world countries, some areas are over populated, which caused such a large start of the epidemic of Ebola and the hygienic situation in West Africa is not to the standards that it should be. The border controls are very poor, allowing individuals that may be infected with the Ebola virus to easily be transmitted to another country. Ebola is now a worldwide concern. Military forces are sending troops from all over the...
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...How to Stop the Spread of Ebola? Ebola virus disease (EVD; also Ebola hemorrhagic fever, or EHF), or simply Ebola, is a disease of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses. The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. Ebola virus disease (EVD) 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 disease takes its name. The current outbreak in west Africa, (first cases notified in March 2014), is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. There have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined. It has also spread between countries starting in Guinea then spreading across land borders to Sierra Leone and Liberia, by air (1 traveller only) to Nigeria, and by land (1 traveller) to Senegal. Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. The various medical agencies have identified the methods needed to be implemented for stopping the spread of Ebola, however , the most pertinent and requisite necessity is...
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...number of lives that some more prominent communicable diseases have, the Ebola virus remains one of the most feared diseases the planet has ever known. Ebola is the subject of much attention from Hollywood; Ebola outbreaks quickly become public knowledge, and always have the potential to cause a panic. Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever, which causes victims to have a difficult time coagulating blood cells. (Bardi, 2002) The results are gruesome, with the afflicted suffering greatly and rarely surviving. Due to the devastating potential Ebola holds, efforts to control it are unprecedented. Nongovernmental organizations like the World Health Organization are often on the scene of a potential Ebola outbreak within days, working to ensure that the disease does not spread beyond the Ground Zero outbreak. The known outbreaks of Ebola have occurred in African countries like Zaire, predominately because of environmental factors. While it is a brutal killer, Ebola is not an especially hardy specimen; it is very easily killed by the cold, and thus is found in the warm and semi-tropical climates noted in Africa. (Waterman, 1999) In addition, researchers have determined that Ebola is probably carried by monkeys, which are in abundance in Africa; Europe and the United States lacks significant monkey populations, which limits the potential for an outbreak to occur there. Additional factors for why the Ebola virus tends to pop up in African countries must take into account socioeconomic...
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...starvation and poverty, people in Africa hunt for wild animals for food. After coming in contact with infected animals such as bats and primates, many people have become sick with Ebola (2). Ebola has a greater impact now than the past and it’s a frightening concept that has been making headlines all over the world for months. Ebola didn’t always have a huge impact on society. The very first outbreak of Ebola in 1976 resulted in 280 deaths (6). There were more than 11,000 deaths in the most recent outbreak, which was the largest Ebola outbreak in history, compared to the first outbreak (6). Not only is Ebola affecting patients, it is a growing concern affecting everyone including the government and public health workers. Doctors and health care workers are at risk of developing the virus and it’s difficult for them and their families to live a normal life. About one third of Ebola patients survive, however, it is not known if people who recover are immune for life or if they can become infected with a different species of Ebola (2)....
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...of Contents Table of Contents Introduction Historical Occurrences of Ebola Countries Affected by the Current Outbreak How the Ebola Virus Spreads Current Level of Infection The Response to the Crisis i. Internally by the local government ii. The role of UN agencies iii. The role of Non governmental agencies iv. The role of the International community v. Canada’s role to date Canada’s Preparedness for a Mass Epidemic Conclusion Bibliography Page 1 of 16 2 3 3 6 8 9 11 13 14 15 EBOLA HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER Introduction This report will attempt to disseminate current and accurate information regarding the status of the Ebola Haemorrhagic fever. While western Africa is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of the Ebola virus in history, this severe and often fatal disease is also affecting thousands of innocent people across our world. Never has the medical community had to deal with such an outbreak. Not only do the medical professionals not know how to treat and handle afflicted patients, they are unable to contain this virus that is spreading at a violent speed. This report will discuss the following issues surrounding Ebola: Historical Occurences, Countries Currently Affected, How the Virus Spreads, Current Level of Infection, Response to the Crisis and Canada’s preparedness for a mass epidemic. Historical Occurrences of Ebola Ebola virus disease, or Ebola haemorrhagic fever first appeared in 1976, in Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku...
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...Ebola virus disease Key facts * Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. * The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. * The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. * The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in west Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas. * Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilisation. * Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is as yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development. * There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but 2 potential candidates are undergoing evaluation. Background The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. Ebola virus disease (EVD) 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...
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...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...
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...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...
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...JONATHAN AGYEMANG HUNTER COLLEGE 11/11/14 AMERICANS ARE TERRIFIED OF EBOLA. WHICH COULD MAKE IT HARDER TO STOP EBOLA ? The title of this article is Americans are terrified of Ebola. Which could make it harder to stop Ebola, the author of the article is Paul Waldman, the date of article October 14,2014 , the source is The Washington Post . Ebola is now the most scary epidemic that has put fear in people. The existence of Ebola has caused a lot of people emotionally to be very careful to whom ever they encounter. As a result of this fear, the general public is experiencing different attitudes towards people in buses , trains, school halls etc. Ebola virus kills as...
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...CJS/211 September 1, 2014 Michael Raneses ETHICAL DILEMMA EBOLA VIRUS Ebola virus appeared in Sudan, Zaire in 1976. The very first outbreak of the Ebola virus was named Sudan Ebola virus and it infected over 284 people, killing 53% of its victims. Another strain of the infection came infecting 318 people; this strain was called the Zaire Ebola virus. It had the highest mortality rate of 88%, and at this time the researchers were not able to pin point where the Ebola virus had originated from. The third subtype of the virus is known as Reston-Ebola and was identified in1989 when it infected monkeys that were being imported to Reston, Virginia from Philippines. The virus also has infected some of the patients, but the patients did not develop the Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The fourth subtype had occurred during 1994 when an ethnologist was during a necropsy on a dead chimpanzee. The ethnologist accidentally infected herself while she was performing the necropsy on the chimpanzee. Ebola has become more prevalent in Africa, where there is an outbreak. The Ebola virus is worsening in West Africa and the director of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention urge traveling warning to any person that may be going any of the three West Africa countries that have been hit by the outbreak. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone the disease have killed all together more than 700 individuals this year alone. This outbreak can become a “global pandemic” if it is not taken care of...
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