According to CDC, Ebola also called Ebola virus disease is defined as one the rare and deadly killing virus on earth. Virus itself is a microscopic pathogens which causes a disease, affect humans, animals or plants. This virus spread from person to person or animal to person. A virus can be classified as being composed of RNA or DNA molecule. In this particular case, Ebola is classified as RNA virus. Our work consist of breaking down the Origin (outbreak), pathology, transmission, signs and symptoms, treatment and how the disease outbreak are controlled.
The first case of Ebola virus appeared in 1976 with two simultaneous outbreak in Soudan and Zaire actual Republic Democratic of Congo. Because the latter outbreak occurred in a village near the Ebola River from which is how the disease was named. These two countries are located central Africa near tropical rainforest. In 1976 to 1995 four cases were documented. In 1976 the outbreak caused 340 deaths out 568 cases. Three years later, in Soudan, the small outbreak caused 22 fatalities out 32 cases.
Finally in 1995, it reoccurred in Zaire” Kikwit”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a total of total of 315 cases were reported leading to 244 deaths, all of these previous occurrences were classified as epidemic ,since only some specific regions were affected by the disease. Very unknown worldwide, The October of 2014 Ebola outbreak became the largest in the history, affecting many countries in West Africa” 2 (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria). The virus was transmitted to United State of America and Europe from healthcare workers who were affected. A total of 13241 cases were recorded and 4949 death occurred in Africa and one death in Texas’s”.
Scientifically what is Ebola virus? When the first case of Ebola happened, local heath institutions handled is as malaria disease that is transmitted by mosquito’s bites. Because of the severity of this virus, WHO and CDC experts worked together to find out that the Ebola virus show the same side effects as malaria. But more virulent There four different strains of the Ebola virus Zaire (EBOZ), Sudan (EBOS), Tai (EBOT) and Reston (EBOR). These strains are very similar except for small serological differences and sequence differences. The Reston Strains is the only one which does not affect humans.
Thus Ebola virus is a negative stranded RNA viruses known as filo viruses. Microscopically, Ebola virus looks like long filaments and are threadlike shape with U form. The average length and diameter of Ebola virus is respectively 920 nm and 80 nm. On the virus surface, there are many spikes or binding sites. The Ebola virons are variable in length and virus consists of helical nucleocapsid. It’s the protein coat and the nucleic acid it encloses.
The virus is composed of 7 polypeptides, nucleoprotein, a polymerase and 4 undesignated proteins, synthetized by mRNA and transcribed by the RNA of the virus. in the order of 3’ untranslated region, nucleoprotein, viral structured protein, VP35, VP40, glycoprotein, VP30, VP24, polymerase(L), and 5’ untranslated region. Once the virus enters the body, it travels through the blood stream and it replicated in many organs. The mechanism used to penetrate the membranes of cells and enter the cell is unclear, but once inside the host cells, The RNA is transcribed and replicated, producing mRNA 3 which are used to produce the virus proteins.
The RNA is replicated inside the cytoplasm and is mediated by the synthesis of an antisense RNA strand which serves as a temple for producing additional Ebola genomes. As the infections progresses, the cytoplasm develops prominent inclusion bodies, It then assembles and buds off from the host cell while obtaining its lipoprotein coat from the outer membrane, leading to the immediate destruction of the host while produce producing large numbers of viruses budding from it.
Technically we can resume by saying this:” the virus attaches itself to a host cell and changes the chemicals make up to fit its own so that it can reproduce easily” Ebola virus attacks cells of the lymphatic organs, liver, kidney, ovaries, testes and the reticuloendothial system.
The massive destruction of the liver is the trademark of Ebola virus. The victim loses vast amount of blood in mucosa, abdomen, pericardium and the vagina capillary. Leading to a massive loss of blood volume. In fatal cases, shock and acute respiratory disorder can also be seen along with bleeding. Victims are delirious due to high fever and many die of intractable shock. After the person is infected, the incubation period range 2 days to 21 days.
During the onset, the host common signs and symptoms will include: weakness, fever, sore throat, dehydration, severe headache, joint and muscles aches stomach pain, diarrhea, black starry emesis severe bleeding and coagulation abnormalities due to the destruction of clotting factors. The start of outbreak is unknown, however, scientists believe that the first patient becomes infected through contact with infected animal such as fruit bat or monkeys…
After the first person is infected, further spread of Ebola is due to direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, secretions and excretions. Spread can be accomplish either by person to person transmission, needle transmission (it happens frequently in third countries because the healthcare 4 is underfinanced), or through sexual contact.
Airbone transmission is not 100% proven yet but several experiments done to prove that this type of transmission is highly possible. No treatment or antiviral therapy exists, roughly more than 50 % of all Ebola’s die. The patient receive intensive supportive care and hope that can be one of fortunate who survive. Only basic intervention are used by providing intravenous fluids and balancing electrolytes, maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure, treating other infections if they occur.
Experiment vaccines and treatments for Ebola are under development, but they have not yet been fully tested for safety or effectiveness. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies at last for at least 10 years possibly longer. Lifetime immunity from them still questionable or if their immunity can prevent them with a different species of Ebola. After recovery some Ebola patient have develop long term complication such as joint and vision problems.
Since there is not specific treatment, to control an outbreak of Ebola and prevent further spread of the virus, CDC, WHO and other organizations have medical team to the area of outbreak, where they provide advice and assistance to prevent additional cases. To limit the spread, collect specimens are used to study the cause of disease, quarantine one who is infected in place.
All hospital personnel must wear protective gear, disposable materials and wastes are removed or burned after use, surfaces are cleaned with sanitized solution, fatal cases are buried or cremated until the outbreak is officially over when two maximum incubation periods of 42 days have passed without any new cases.
The reservoir of the animal species which carries the Ebola virus has not been found, but is known to be related an outbreak caused when man come in contact with an animal reservoir. Scientist have made several attempts during the 1975 out breaks to find it, but have been 5 unsuccessful. In 1995 the outbreak gave scientist a perfect opportunity to search for the source once again. After locate patient zero, the search the jungle where he probably get in contact with Ebola. 18000 animals answer 30000 insects these include mosquito, birds, ticks, rodent, bats, cats, snakes, monkeys.. Collected specimens and tested for Ebola the traces of Ebola were detected in the gorilla and chimpanzees during the 2001 and 2003 which later become the source of human infections.
Today since the outbreak become a worldwide issue there is a sign of progress with 5 imported cases to USA resulting to 0ne death, the use of information of the patient and his serum which cured another was successful. It is the hoping sign that this epidemic will become more controllable and cure in the future 6 Outline I- Definition II- Origin III- Structure and description of the virus IV- Transmission V- Signs and symptoms VI- Treatment VII- Prevention VIII- Reservoir.