By what route, and under what circumstances, does the virus pass from its reservoir into other animals?
Ebola is an infectious, fatal disease that is marked mainly by fever and severe internal bleeding. Ebola is caused and spread
through contact of an infected body through body fluids by a filovirus.
Why is the fatality rate of the Ebola Virus Disease so high? What possible cure is there for Ebola, and if any, which one is the
most effective?
Rationale
Ebola is a virus that greatly effects not only the
human population in various parts of the
world, but also in animals such as
chimpanzees and gorillas, that can be affected
by the disease, and bats, that carry the
disease. The spread of the Ebola virus from
infected animals to humans classifies it as a
zoonotic virus, and the fact that there is no
known cure for the Ebola virus makes it
especially devastating to infected patients,
human and animal.
Origins
Ebola first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous
outbreaks in Nzara, Sudan and in Yambuku,
Republic of Congo. The disease was found to
originate in a village near the Ebola River.
Various outbreaks of the disease have also
been observed in chimpanzees and gorillas.
Infection Mechanism
Zoonotic Disease
Ebola is classified as a zoonotic disease,
because of the ability of the virus being able
to spread from animal to humans. Ebola is
common in third world countries, especially
Africa, because it is introduced to the human
population through close contact with blood or
other bodily fluids of infected animals, such as
handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas,
fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and
porcupines found ill or dead or in the
rainforest.
One relief for the disease target the symptom
of dehydration which can be treated through
oral rehydration, which is why the fatality rate
of Ebola in humans is at 90%. The best relief
for Ebola provides injecting fluid into the
patient for replacing the bleeding that occurs
from all orifices that the hemorrhagic fever
destroys the body from within.
Conclusion
The Ebola virus at a visible, magnified level
Map of major Ebola outbreaks throughout time
Treatment
Initial steps of the transmission of the disease
to the human body is unknown. But, one
infected, the virus can spread around through
direct contact with the blood or secretions of
an infected person. Another way is though
needles used on other patients in health
facilities. From this, anyone close can become
infected. The central nervous system is then
affected along with damage to the skin making
it very weak and fragile at an extreme level.
Blood clots are also formed and after follows
death.
Symptoms
Symptoms show up within 2 to 21 days once
infected. Early symptoms of Ebola is similar to
the flu or any other common illnesses. These
symptoms would involve having a fever,
headache, muscle aches, sore throat,
weakness, and diarrhea. More severe
symptoms of further progression are internal
bleeding, external rashes, and respiratory
problems.
Ebola is highly fatal and is disastrous to the
human population and therefore no current
existing vaccinations are available. Ebola
spreads from human to human through the
same means, contact of infected bodily fluids.
Ebola Virus Disease is a severe acute viral
illness causing low white blood cell and
platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes,
which leads impaired kidney and liver function,
and internal and external bleeding, usually the
cause of death in Ebola patients.
Questions to Go Further
• If the virus changes at all from the infection
of animals to that of humans, how does it
change to be so deadly?
• Could there possibly be the development of
a vaccine for animals and not humans, or vice
versa?
• What are some of the possible cures or
vaccines being developed for the Ebola virus?
• Who is most at risk for Ebola virus?
• When should someone seek medical care?
• How is Ebola virus diagnosed in the
laboratory?