Skip to main content

More on Ebola that you might not have known

How it came in existence?
Ebola is a viral fever that is extremely sever and in most of the case a fatal illness. The disease was first spread in the year 1976, in the places like Sudan and Zaire.It has affected about 284 people in its first outbreak. This led to a mortality rate of around 53%. The second outbreak effected around 318 people with the highest mortality rate of about 88% in the regions of Yambuku and Zaire.  This viral affect was named and Ebola-Zaire (EBOZ). The expertise researchers worked hard to find out the cause of such a severe disease but were unable to find out the actual cause behind the virus. In the year 1989, the Ebola Reston (EBOR) was first identified. This was the third strain of the disease. It was found in the Ebola affected monkey imported in Reston.
Facts on Ebola:
A per the report of World Health Organization (WHO), the death due to the infection of Ebola is around 4493 and the suspected victims of the disease has exceeded 8998. But WHO still has the assumption that it may be 2.5 times the number that has been reported. It has been detected as the highest outbreak of any disease found so far. Generally the virus resides in the fruit bats. The mostly affected people with Ebola are those who leave around the tropical rainforest. The germs are spread through infected animals like chimpanzee, fruit bats, and antelope by coming in close contact with blood, secretion, sweat, or any fluid of the victim.
When a person is affected with Ebola then first symptoms felt is high fever followed by muscle pain and sore throat. Later it increases its effect very fast with vomiting, diarrhoea, bleeding internal or external, finally reaching out to death. This spreads so rapidly that the health care workers had to have serious protection and they usually cover up the whole body heavily.
Research has found out that mostly the people suffering from poverty are the victims of this disease. They do not have proper hygiene and medication. Thus they are devoid of resisting the spread of this disease. The hospitals too do not provide proper treatment to them and most are understaffed for this disease. Thus places like Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are badly affected by Ebola virus. The positive aspect of Ebola germ is that it cannot persist in high temperature and are easily fragile. Thus it can be destroyed by alcohol gel or even soapy water. It can even be killed by drying it out or using disinfectants.
People who are diagnosed properly in the early stage of Ebola fever can survive. Though there has been no vaccines available till now to prevent this disease. The patients gradually become so week and dehydrated that they are required to have oral rehydrating supplements more often like intravenous fluid or electrolytes. The medication is also rare for Ebola. Still now researches are going on regarding the treatment of such tremendously fatal disease.

Popular posts from this blog

Ebola Outbreak : Facts about Ebola Virus

Ebola , the deadly disease that has taken over the central and west Africa, this year, is nothing new to the continent. The disease has been affecting the people of the continent since 1976 when it was recognized in Zaire (now called Democratic Republic of Congo).This year's outbreak is the largest Ebola Outbreak in the history and it is important that we make ourselves aware. So here are some facts that one needs to arm themselves with to handle any situation about Ebola : Origin: Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a disease caused by one of the five different Ebola Viruses. Four out of these viruses are known to cause fatal diseases in humans and other mammals, while the fifth one is not fatal for humans, animals are not that lucky, though. The natural reservoir of the virus is believed to be bats, particularly fruit bats, but is seen frequently in apes, monkeys and pigs as well. Spread : Ebola spreads through the transmission of bodily fluids from animals to humans and from humans...

Treatment and recovery from ebola

Ebola virus causes Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever or Ebola. The disease caused by the virus is often fatal. The virus gets spread by direct contact with bodily fluids or blood of an infected person or infected animal. The symptoms of the disease are not very clear and the disease initially feels like flu. The symptoms include stomach pain, muscle aches, vomit, diarrhea, unexplained bleeding or bruising and fatigue. As of now, there is no known medication or vaccine which is effective. The scientists are still in the early stages of understanding how the infection caused by Ebola virus can be treated. There are a number of experimental treatments that are being considered for use in cases of Ebola outbreaks. The experimental treatments are under clinical trials. As there is no cure for Ebola and research is still going on for finding one, the experimental treatment carried out by the doctors include a serum that is said to destroy the infected cell...

Travelling instructions to Ebola affected countries

For those who are about to travel or are already travelling to Ebola affected countries, World Health Organization (WHO) has listed out the travel advice. Travelers are requested to again consider the necessity of the travel. Since the outbreak of the disease is a very serious issue and the healthcare systems are already weak, travel advice had to be given. Check what your health insurance plan covers. Many health insurance plans do not include Evacuation insurance. Maintain hygiene. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water or carry a hand sanitizer while on the trip. Be careful to not getting in contact with any body fluids or blood of an Ebola infected person. Do not use or touch items used by an infected person. Items such as syringes, towels, mugs etc. should not be handled. Do not come in contact with dead body of the person who died of Ebola. While attending funeral or burial rituals, stay conscious and avoid contact. Do not have sex with a person infected or re...