The Ebola Virus is a very dangerous virus. It causes a hemorrhagic fever called Ebola virus disease. ‘Hemorrhagic’ means that the victim infected with the virus bleeds both internally and externally. Out of every 10 people who get the virus, 5-9 on average die. This virus is easily contagious and can spread to different countries. It can only spread through fluids from the person and not through the air. At the moment, there is no cure, so anyone can easily be infected. It was first found in Sudan, and is now in Africa, and possibly even America and Asia.
However, it continues to be a low threat to countries outside of Africa. One of the most recent outbreaks of the Ebola virus was in the west of Africa with three countries: Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Approximately 8,300 cases and 4,000 deaths have been reported from these countries by the World Health Organization. It is also the largest outbreak of Ebola at this current time. Experts studying the virus suspect that it is very unlikely that the virus will spread to places like the UK because unless someone were to travel to an infected area, it cannot be transmitted.
A typical person infected with the Ebola virus will usually develop a sore throat, a headache, a fever, joint and muscle pain, and an immense muscle weakness. After infected, these symptoms normally occur 5 – 7 days after, but can be between 2 – 21 days. Rashes, stomach pains, vomiting, diarrhoea and impaired kidney and liver function follow. The patient will then bleed internally, and may also bleed from the eyes, nose, ears and mouth. The Ebola virus is fatal 50% – 90% of the time.
However, if the patient if treated early and is given sooner care, the chances of the surviving are increased. Many of the people are infected by treating and curing the infected person, either by touching the victim’s body directly or by cleaning up body fluids (stools, urine or vomit) that may carry infectious blood. The traditional African burial rituals have also played quite a huge part in the virus’ spread. The Ebola virus can survive several days without being inside the body, meaning it can be on the patient’s skin – which means if the mourners were to touch the body (as it is common practice), they then only need to touch their own mouths to infect themselves.