Symptoms of Ebola Virus are Similar To Some Other
Viruses, Like Congo, Dengue and Swine Influenza
Ebola virus and its genus were both
originally named for Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, the country
where it was first described, and was first suspected to be a new, strain, of
the closely related Marburg virus. The virus was renamed,Ebola virus, in 2010
to avoid confusion. Ebola virus is the single member of the species Zaire Ebola
virus, which is the type species for the genus Ebola virus, family Filoviridae,
order Mononegavirales. Ebola virus disease, EVD, formerly known as Ebola
haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is
transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population
through human to human transmission. The natural reservoir of Ebola virus is
considered to be bats, particularly fruit bats, and it is primarily transmitted
between humans and from animals to humans through body fluids. The virus spreads
by direct contact with blood or other body fluids of an infected human or other
animal. Infection with the virus may also occur by direct contact with a
recently contaminated item or surface. Spread of the disease through the air
between primates, including humans, have not been documented in either
laboratory or natural conditions. The virus may be transmitted by semen or
breast milk for several weeks to months after recovery. Fruit bats are believed
to be the normal carrier in nature, able to spread the virus without being
affected by it. Humans become infected by contact with the bats or with a
living or dead animal that has been infected by bats. After human infection
occurs, the disease may also spread between people. Simply Ebola is an illness of
humans and other primates caused by Ebola virus. Signs and symptoms typically
start between two days and three weeks after contracting the virus as a fever,
sore throat, muscle pain, and headaches. Then, vomiting, diarrhea and rash
usually follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. At this
time, some people begin to bleeding both internally and externally. The disease
has a high risk of death, killing between 25 percent and 90 percent of those
infected with the virus, averaging out at 50 percent. This is usually due to
low blood pressure from fluid loss, and typically follows six to sixteen days
after symptoms appear. Necessary measure for people who care for those infected
with Ebola should wear protective clothing including masks, gloves, gowns and
goggles. The US Centers for Disease Control, CDC, recommends that the
protective gear leaves no skin exposed. These measures are further recommended
for those who may handle objects contaminated by an infected person's body
fluids. In 2014, the CDC began recommending that medical personnel receive
training on the proper suit up and removal of personal protective equipment,
PPE, in addition, a designated person, appropriately trained in bio-safety,
should be watching each step of these procedures to ensure they are done
correctly. The infected person should be in barrier-isolation from other
people. All equipment, medical waste, patient waste and surfaces that may have
come in contact with body fluids need to be disinfected. During the 2014 outbreak,
kits were put together to help families to treat Ebola disease in their homes,
which include protective clothing as well as chlorine powder and other cleaning
supplies. Supportive care rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids and
treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival. There is still no proven
treatment available for EVD. However, a range of potential treatments including
blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are currently being
reviewed. Educate those people who provide care with these techniques and look
after people who infected from Ebola virus.
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