EBOLA VIRUS

By:

Asniah Abdullah

Cheryl Padura

What is Ebola Virus?

Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic
Republic of Congo.

The virus is animal-borne, with bats being the most likely source. The bats carrying the virus can
transmit it to other animals, like apes, monkeys, duikers and humans.

History

Ebola virus disease (EVD), one of the deadliest viral diseases, was discovered in 1976 when two
consecutive outbreaks of fatal hemorrhagic fever occurred in different parts of Central Africa.
The first outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in a village
near the Ebola River, which gave the virus its name. The second outbreak occurred in what is
now South Sudan, approximately 500 miles (850 km) away.
Initially, public health officials assumed these outbreaks were a single event associated with an
infected person who traveled between the two locations. However, scientists later discovered that
the two outbreaks were caused by two genetically distinct viruses: Zaire ebolavirus and Sudan
ebolavirus. After this discovery, scientists concluded that the virus came from two different
sources and spread independently to people in each of the affected areas.
Viral and epidemiologic data suggest that Ebola virus existed long before these recorded
outbreaks occurred. Factors like population growth, encroachment into forested areas, and direct
interaction with wildlife (such as bushmeat consumption) may have contributed to the spread of
the Ebola virus.
Transmission
The use of contaminated needles and syringes during the earliest outbreaks enabled transmission
and amplification of Ebola virus. During the first outbreak in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of
Congo – DRC), nurses in the Yambuku mission hospital reportedly used five syringes for 300 to
600 patients a day. Close contact with infected blood, reuse of contaminated needles, and
improper nursing techniques were the source for much of the human-to-human transmission
during early Ebola outbreaks.2
In 1989, Reston ebolavirus was discovered in research monkeys imported from the Philippines
into the U.S. Later, scientists confirmed that the virus spread throughout the monkey population
through droplets in the air (aerosolized transmission) in the facility. However, such airborne
transmission is not proven to be a significant factor in human outbreaks of Ebola.3 The discovery
of the Reston virus in these monkeys from the Philippines revealed that Ebola was no longer
confined to African settings, but was present in Asia as well.
By the 1994 Cote d’Ivoire outbreak, scientists and public health officials had a better
understanding of how Ebola virus spreads and progress was made to reduce transmission through
the use of face masks, gloves and gowns for healthcare personnel. In addition, the use of
disposable equipment, such as needles, was introduced.
During the 1995 Kikwit, Zaire (now DRC) outbreak, the international public health community
played a strong role, as it was now widely agreed that containment and control of Ebola virus
were paramount in ending outbreaks. The local community was educated on how the disease
spreads; the hospital was properly staffed and stocked with necessary equipment; and healthcare
personnel was trained on disease reporting, patient case identification, and methods for reducing
transmission in the healthcare setting.4
In the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak in West Africa, healthcare workers represented only 3.9% of all
confirmed and probable cases of EVD in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea combined.5 In
comparison, healthcare workers accounted for 25% of all infections during the 1995 outbreak in
Kikwit.6 During the 2014-2015 West Africa outbreak, the majority of transmission events were
between family members (74%). Direct contact with the bodies of those who died from EVD
proved to be one of the most dangerous – and effective – methods of transmission. Changes in
behaviors related to mourning and burial, along with the adoption of safe burial practices, were
critical in controlling that epidemic.7

Scientists think people are initially infected with Ebola virus through contact with an infected
animal, such as a fruit bat or nonhuman primate. This is called a spillover event. After that, the
virus spreads from person to person, potentially affecting a large number of people.
The virus spreads through direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in
the eyes, nose, or mouth) with:

 Blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person
who is sick with or has died from EVD
 Objects (such as needles and syringes) contaminated with body fluids from a person sick with
EVD or the body of a person who died from EVD
 Infected fruit bats or nonhuman primates (such as apes and monkeys)
 Semen from a man who recovered from EVD (through oral, vaginal, or anal sex)
The Ebola virus CANNOT spread to others when a person shows no signs or symptoms of Ebola
Virus Disease (EVD). Additionally, Ebola virus is not usually transmitted by food. However, in
certain parts of the world, Ebola virus may spread through the handling and consumption of
bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food). There is also no evidence that mosquitoes or other
insects can transmit Ebola virus.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) include:

 Fever
 Severe headache
 Muscle pain
 Weakness
 Fatigue
 Diarrhea
 Vomiting
 Abdominal (stomach) pain
 Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after contact with the virus, with an average
of 8 to 10 days. Many common illnesses can have these same symptoms, including influenza
(flu) or malaria.
EVD is a rare but severe and often deadly disease. Recovery from EVD depends on good
supportive clinical care and the patient’s immune response. Studies show that survivors of Ebola
virus infection have antibodies (molecules that are made by the immune system to label invading
pathogens for destruction) that can be detected in the blood up to 10 years after recovery.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) shortly after infection can be difficult. Early symptoms
of EVD such as fever, headache, and weakness are not specific to Ebola virus infection and often
are seen in patients with other more common diseases, like malaria and typhoid fever.
To determine whether Ebola virus infection is a possible diagnosis, there must be a combination
of symptoms suggestive of EVD AND a possible exposure to EVD within 21 days before the
onset of symptoms. An exposure may include contact with:

 blood or body fluids from a person sick with or who died from EVD
 objects contaminated with blood or body fluids of a person sick with or who died from EVD
 infected fruit bats and primates (apes or monkeys)
 semen from a man who has recovered from EVD
If a person shows early signs of EVD and has had a possible exposure, he or she should be
isolated (separated from other people) and public health authorities notified. Blood samples from
the patient should be collected and tested to confirm infection. Ebola virus can be detected in
blood after onset of symptoms, most notably fever. It may take up to three days after symptoms
start for the virus to reach detectable levels. A positive laboratory test means that Ebola infection
is confirmed. Public health authorities will conduct a public health investigation, including
tracing of all possibly exposed contacts.
Treatment
Symptoms of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) are treated as they appear. When used early, basic
interventions can significantly improve the chances of survival. These include:

 Providing fluids and electrolytes (body salts) through infusion into the vein (intravenously).
 Offering oxygen therapy to maintain oxygen status.
 Using medication to support blood pressure, reduce vomiting and diarrhea and to manage
fever and pain.
 Treating other infections, if they occur.

Recovery from EVD depends on good supportive care and the patient’s immune response. Those
who do recover develop antibodies that can last 10 years, possibly longer. It is not known if
people who recover are immune for life or if they can later become infected with a different
species of Ebola virus. Some survivors may have long-term complications, such as joint and
vision problems.

Antiviral Drugs
There is currently no antiviral drug licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to
treat EVD in people. Drugs that are being developed to treat EVD work by stopping the virus
from making copies of itself.
Blood transfusions from survivors and mechanical filtering of blood from patients are also being
explored as possible treatments for EVD. [1]

Ash, kindly check on this and edit it the things you don’t like. Delete all things that are
unnecessary. Thank you.