Virus
The Ebola virus (family Filoviridae) responsible for a severe and
often fatal haemorrhagic fever; outbreaks in primates as well as in humans have
been recorded. The disease is characterised by extreme fever, rash, and profuse
haemorrhaging. Fatality rates range from 50 to 90 percent. (1) Ebola was
regarded as an epidemic in 1976 when it was discovered along the Ebola River in
Zaire. The outbreaks moved throughout Zaire and The Sudan. In 1995 there was
another epidemic in Zaire which resulted in hundreds of deaths as did the
earlier epidemics. (2) People who contracted the Ebola virus will notice
symptoms 4 ? 16 days after they contract the virus. An infected person will
suddenly be hit by severe headaches, muscle aches and loss of appetite. Within a
few days the virus causes a condition know as ?disseminated intravascular
coagulation’. This condition is marked by both blood clots and haemorrhaging.
In the case of Ebola fever, clots are concentrated in the liver, spleen, brain,
and other internal organs, forcing capillaries to bleed into surrounding tissue.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea with blood and mucus, conjunctivitis, and sore
throat soon follow. A maculopapular rash (discoloured elevations of the skin)
appears on the trunk and quickly spreads to the limbs and head. The patient is
then beset by spontaneous bleeding from body orifices and any breaks in the
skin, such as injection sites, and within the gastrointestinal tract, skin, and
internal organs. Death is usually brought on by haemorrhaging, shock, or renal
failure and occurs within 8 to 17 days. (3) Like most viruses, Ebola is usually
carried by animals, especially rodents. Ebola can be transmitted through contact
with infected blood, semen, body fluids, and possibly urine and respiratory
secretions. The virus has also been detected in the organs of patients after
recovery from the fever. Unsanitary conditions and lack of adequate medical
supplies have been a factor in the spread of the disease. (4) As of yet there is
no known cure or treatment for the Ebola Virus. Current therapy consists of
maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance and administration of blood and
plasma to control bleeding. The spread of the virus can be contained by barrier
nursing, handling of infected blood and tissue in isolated laboratory units, and
proper decontamination of reusable equipment. (5) There were no statistics
available on the Ebola Virus but for each outbreak there has been, at least 300+
people have died each time. (6) Ebola is usually passed through contact with
infected blood and body fluid. In some cases the virus has become airborne but
has been contained. (7) If you are not living in Zaire near the Ebola river the
chances of you contracting Ebola are so remote it isn’t even worth
considering. But if you did contract it while on a holiday in Africa, the best
thing would be to keep away from everyone and ring health authorities as soon as
possible.
