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| Ebola Virus |
What is Ebola Virus Disease?
Ebola Virus Disease commonly called Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a deadly virus that causes hemorrhagic fever. Ebola presents itself in a severe manner and is often fatal. The virus affect both man and animal especially primates. It was believed by research to have been transferred from animal to man and the routes of transmission varies from direct contact with blood, body fluid and secretions.
The Ebola virus is from the family of Filoviridae that includes three genera namely Cuevavirus, Marburgvirus, and Ebolavirus. Over time five different species of Ebola virus had been identified in different locations from Zaire to Bundibugyo to Sudan to Reston and the Taï Forest.These species of Ebola virus have been associated with the recorded large outbreaks in 2014 to 2016 in Africa, which are The Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, The Zaire Ebolavirus, and The Sudan Ebolavirus have been associated with large outbreaks in Africa.
The first Ebola case appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in Nzara, South Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The second outbreak occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.
The case fatality rate of Ebola Virus Disease is around 50%, in the resent outbreaks the case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90%. The first largest Ebola outbreaks in 2014 occurred near the tropical forest in remote Central Africa Villages.
The Ebola virus is from the family of Filoviridae that includes three genera namely Cuevavirus, Marburgvirus, and Ebolavirus. Over time five different species of Ebola virus had been identified in different locations from Zaire to Bundibugyo to Sudan to Reston and the Taï Forest.These species of Ebola virus have been associated with the recorded large outbreaks in 2014 to 2016 in Africa, which are The Bundibugyo Ebolavirus, The Zaire Ebolavirus, and The Sudan Ebolavirus have been associated with large outbreaks in Africa.
The first Ebola case appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in Nzara, South Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The second outbreak occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.
The case fatality rate of Ebola Virus Disease is around 50%, in the resent outbreaks the case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90%. The first largest Ebola outbreaks in 2014 occurred near the tropical forest in remote Central Africa Villages.
Symptoms Ebola Virus Diseases
The symptoms of Ebola appears between these days after exposure to the virus from 2 to 21 days. The Symptoms experienced usually includes:
Fever
Rash
Internal and external bleeding
Headache
Sore throat
Muscle pain
Joint aches
Weakness
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Stomach pain
Lack of appetite
Red eyes
Rash
Internal and external bleeding
Headache
Sore throat
Muscle pain
Joint aches
Weakness
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Stomach pain
Lack of appetite
Red eyes
Transmission of Ebola virus diseases
Fruit bats have been documented to be the natural Ebola host especially the ones of Pteropodidae family. Transmission of Ebola virus is associated with contact with infected animals blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids. Animals in this categories includes chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines.
Ebola also can be spread through human to human contact with broken skin or membranes, blood, sex, and contact with body fluids.
Ebola also can be spread through human to human contact with broken skin or membranes, blood, sex, and contact with body fluids.
Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Diseases
Ebola virus diagnosis can be difficult clinically by just mere symptoms. It mimics diseases such as typhoid, malaria and meningitis. To properly diagnose Ebola virus disease confirmation should be done using the following diagnostic techniques and methods.
Electron microscopy
Antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Virus isolation by cell culture
Antigen-capture detection tests
Serum neutralization test
Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay
Automated or semi-automated nucleic acid tests (NAT) for routine diagnostic management.
Rapid antigen detection tests.
Electron microscopy
Antibody-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
Virus isolation by cell culture
Antigen-capture detection tests
Serum neutralization test
Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay
Automated or semi-automated nucleic acid tests (NAT) for routine diagnostic management.
Rapid antigen detection tests.
Treatment/Management of Ebola virus diseases
The early symptoms of Ebola are similar to other, more common, diseases. This makes it difficult to diagnose Ebola in someone who has been infected for only a few days. However, if a person has the early symptoms of Ebola and there is reason to suspect Ebola, the patient should be isolated. It is also important to notify public health professionals. Lab tests can confirm whether the patient has Ebola.
There is no cure for Ebola, but the symptoms can be managed. The basic treatment for Ebola virus disease involves supportive care such as fluids infusion with re-hydration both oral and intravenous, oxygen support , and treatment of associated complications of the virus manifestation, immune therapy, drug therapies. This improves the survival rate to the virus infection.
There is no cure for Ebola, but the symptoms can be managed. The basic treatment for Ebola virus disease involves supportive care such as fluids infusion with re-hydration both oral and intravenous, oxygen support , and treatment of associated complications of the virus manifestation, immune therapy, drug therapies. This improves the survival rate to the virus infection.
Ebola Vaccination
Efforts to prevent Increase fatality to Ebola Virus Disease has taken a new turn with the development of experimental vaccines. In the major trials that had been carried out, experimental vaccine has provided a high protective cover against the virus in the trial that was carried out with the vaccine in Guinea.
The Ebola vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, was tired with about 11 841 people during 2015. Among the 5837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination. In comparison, there were 23 cases 10 days or more after vaccination among those who did not receive the vaccine.
The Ebola vaccine, called rVSV-ZEBOV, was tired with about 11 841 people during 2015. Among the 5837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded 10 days or more after vaccination. In comparison, there were 23 cases 10 days or more after vaccination among those who did not receive the vaccine.
Prevention of Ebola
To prevent contacting Ebola virus, risk reduction measures must be put in place to avoid transmission from animals to humans and from humans to human.
Other things to put in place includes:
Other things to put in place includes:
Reducing the risk of wildlife-to-human transmission
Avoid consumption of their raw meat.
Animals should be handled with gloves
Appropriate protective clothing should be worn by heath workers
Animal products (blood and meat) should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Practice safe sex
Practice safe burial of the dead
Identifying people who may have been in contact with someone infected with Ebola and monitoring their health for 21 days,
Separating the healthy from the sick to prevent further spread
Practice good hygiene and maintaining a clean environment.
Avoid consumption of their raw meat.
Animals should be handled with gloves
Appropriate protective clothing should be worn by heath workers
Animal products (blood and meat) should be thoroughly cooked before consumption.
Practice safe sex
Practice safe burial of the dead
Identifying people who may have been in contact with someone infected with Ebola and monitoring their health for 21 days,
Separating the healthy from the sick to prevent further spread
Practice good hygiene and maintaining a clean environment.
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