Dangerous Virus of the 21st Century - Dissertation Example

 Ebola Abstract Ebola is one of the most feared viral diseases. So feared is the disease that at the height of the recent outbreak in Western Africa, there were concerns that the terrorists may try to make a biological bomb out of the virus. What accentuates this fear is the fact that the virus has no known cure. This is worrying especially given that it is now almost 40 years since the viral disease was discovered. The fact that there appears to have been less research in this area has also been a subject of debate. Developed world has been accused of ignoring this disease because it has been less affected by the disease over the years, with Africa being the most affected. It has also to be appreciated that the virus is even a health risk to the researchers and this may account for the seemingly almost absence research on finding either its cure or treatment. All in all, it can be said that even though the disease is fairly widely known among the medical community, the general public appears not to have enough information and this was clear during the recent outbreak. Going forward, it will be interesting to note the efforts that will be directed towards the disease in the coming months and years given that the latest Ebola outbreak appears to have come under control. Ebola The outbreak of Ebola virus in parts of West Africa, and specifically Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea surprised the world and filled people with fear. This is because for the first time, the scale of the outbreak was simply unprecedented (Bradford, 2014, Close, 1995). Many people like never before were affected and killed by the virus, and within days, it had captured the attention of the world. According to several studies, Ebola virus can first be traced to an outbreak in 1976 which affected Sudan and the former Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo or simply DRC) (CDC, 2015, Bradford, 2014 and Cohen, 2001). The name Ebola came from the Ebola River which is found in the DRC (Cohen, 2001). Ebola is a viral disease, popularly known as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. It is fatal if left untreated, and fatalities can reach up to 90 percent of the cases (Close, 1995). The most important fact is that Ebola has no known cure and can only be managed by ensuring that the patient is hydrated as it involves a lot of loss of the body fluids. Ebola outbreaks in the past have mainly been confined to rural areas where populations are mostly sparse. This is perhaps why the previous outbreaks were easily contained after a few deaths (Centre for Health Protection, 2014). However, for the case of last year’s outbreak in West Africa, that was the first time the disease was affecting urban set up, where populations are dense, hence the faster spread. Morphology of the virus The Ebola virus is a member of the Filoviridaefamily. Its morphology is enveloped, helical and cross-striated nucleocapsid(Hewlett & Hewlet, 2008). It has extensive branching and is flexible. The virus has a length that ranges from 970 nm to 1200 nm ((Hewlett & Hewlet, 2008). Its nucleic acid is linear, single stranded RNA. The virus is stable at room temperature but inactivated at60 degrees centigrade for 30 minutes (CDC, 2015). Infectiousness is greatly reduced or even destroyed by ultra violet light. Causative Agent Ebola is caused when an individual is infected by Ebola virus whichbelongs to the family of Floridae.It is estimated that fatality rate stands at 90 per cent but this can be reduced drastically if treatment of those infected starts early.The most common strains of the virus include Reston Virus and the Zaire Virus (CDC, 2015 and Cohen, 1995). Patterns of Disease Outbreak Ebola was first reported in Yambuku of the DRC in 1976. In that outbreak, 280 people, estimated to be 88 per cent (CDC, 2015) of all those who contracted the viral disease succumbing. This outbreak was however blamed on bodily contact and syringes in the hospitals (CDC, 2015). The same year, the virus was detected in Nzara, in the current South Sudan, and 151 people died, representing 53 per cent of all those who were infected (CDC, 2015, Cohen, 1995). Since then, Peters (1999) notes that there were several reported cases in England, USA, Philippines, Italy, Zaire and but it appears no one succumbed as it was swiftly contained. The next episode happened in 1994 in Gabon, where 31 people died out of the virus at a gold mine. In 2000-2001, a serious case of the outbreak which caught the attention of the world occurred in Gulu and Mbarara districts of Uganda, where 224 deaths were reported (CDC, 2015). From there, in 2007, CDC (2015) reports that a serious outbreak occurred in DRC in Kasai province where 187 deaths were reported. In between these two periods, a number of outbreaks were reported in Central Africa region but quickly contained, with number of deaths averaging below 10. Last year’s outbreak in West Africa is the most serious outbreak in the history of the virus, looking at the geographical coverage and number ofcasualties. To date, even though the virus appears to have been contained, it is estimated that over 10,000 people have since died, and new reported cases keep coming up almost in a daily basis. Transmission Ebola is introduced into the human body through contact with infected fluids such as blood, sweat, saliva and other fluids such as sperms and secretions (Peters 1999 and Sanchez, Geisbert & Feldman, 2007). Besides, contact with surfaces with these body fluids from and infected person may also cause entry of the virus into the body. Looking at the studies in the DRC and other Central African states, Horowitz (2012) observes that Ebola virus also affects game animals such as chimpanzees, antelopes and gorillas and contact with fluids from infected animals or their dead bodies may cause one to contract the virus. Moreover, fruit bats of the family called Pteropodidae are thought to be the reservoir for the virus (Martin and Sierget, 1985 and Peters, 1999) and they can get transmitted to animals or human beings through contact.Even after individuals has been treated and discharged from health institutions, they remain infectious as long as they body fluids contain the virus. It is thought that this remains they case for upto seven weeks. One grey area is the fact that studies do not appear to show if one has to have a broken skin to enable entry of the virus (Peters, 1999 and Peters and LeDuc, 1999). As a result, to remain safe, individuals are advised to avoid all forms of body contact with the infected victims of the virus. Besides, sometimes, it is difficult to note if one has a break in his skin surface. Signs & Symptoms According to Peters & LeDuc (1999) and CDC (2015) Ebola has an incubation period of between 2 days and 21 days for the signs to be visible. Individuals can only become infectious once the signs start showing. In the case of Ebola, signs of one being infected include the sudden onset of fever, headache and muscle pain (Centre for Health Protection, 2014). In some instances, cases of kidney and liver failure may be experienced by the patients (Heymann, Weisfeld, & Webb, 1994).Diarrhea and vomiting may follow leading to the patients being dehydrated quickly. In advanced stages, bleeding from both internal as well as external organs may be witnessed. Normally, the bleeding will normally be from most of the body openings such as the mouth, nose, anus and even eyes. It treatment is delayed, the affected individual may lose a lot of body fluids and sometimes, may bleed to death. Treatment Even though there are many drugs on trial for the disease, especially in light of the outbreak in West Africa, there is no known cure for the virus. Most of these potential treatment has tended to make trials on blood products and other therapies such as immune as well as drug therapies. It is important to mention that no drug or vaccines has yet proved to be successful and we may have to wait longer for a breakthrough. However, for those who have contracted the disease, management of the virus include ensuring the individual are hydrated. This is because the fever involves a lot of loss of bodily fluids. The patient can be given fluids either orally or intravenously. Besides, Georges, Leroy, & Renaud (1999) and Watanabe, Noda, & Kawaoka (2006) notes that treatment of symptoms greatly improves chances of survival. This should however start immediately the signs are seen so as to help improve survival chances. Given that there is no known cure for the virus, more attention has been given to measures to avoid contracting the virus in the first place. With regards to human-to human infection, it is important to ensure that individuals caring for a sick person wear protective clothing at all times (Bradford, 2015 and Georges, Leroy & Renaud (1999). However, experience of health workers in West Africa shows that it is important to care extra care while putting on as well as when removing the clothing because if the skin come into contact with clothing bearing the infected body fluids, then this may increase chances of infection. It is also important to ensure that people who are caring for sick relatives avoid as much as possible coming into bodily contact with the sick. In that case, health care workers who are knowledgeable of how to handle the sick should be called in to take away the sick. Regularly hand washing should also be encouraged to ensure that those who may have accidentally come into contact with the fluids stay safe (Bradford, 2015). Outbreak containment measures should also be kicked off immediately there is an outbreak. This includes discouraging communal practices which may help further spread the virus such as weddings and ceremonies. The dead should be buried immediately to avoid any contact with the body. Besides, individual who may have come into contact with a victim should be traced and monitored for signs of the disease so as to start treatment earlier (Watanabe, Noda, & Kawaoka, 2006). Lastly, hunting and eating game meat such as gorillas and chimpanzees is known to cause the disease in some parts of Central Africa (Bradford, 2015). As a result, such practices should be discouraged in order to contain the disease. References Centre for Disease and Control. (2015, March 24). Outbreaks Chronology: Ebola Virus Disease. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/history/chronology.html Bradford, A. (2015, March 24). Ebola: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/48311-ebola-causes-symptoms-treatment.html Centre for Health Protection. (2014, March 24). Ebola virus disease. Retrieved from http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/34397.html Close, W. (1995). Ebola. New York: Ivy Book Press. Cohen, J. (2001). Deep Denial. Sciences, 41, 20-21. Georges, A., Leroy, E., & Renaud, A. (1999). Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Gabon, 1994-1997. Journal of Ifectious Diseases, 65-75. Hewlett, B., & Hewlet, B. (2008). Ebola, Culture and Politics: The Anthropology of an Emerging Disease. London: Cengage. Heymann, D., Weisfeld, J., & Webb, P. (1994). Ebola hemorrhagic fever: Tandala, Zaire, 1977-1978. Journal for Infectious Diseases, 142, 374-386. Horowitz, L. G. (2012). Emerging Viruses: AIDS and Ebola : Nature, Accident, Or Intentional? New York: Aware Journalism. Martin, G. A., & Sierget, R. (1971). Marburg Virus Disease. Berlin: Springer. Peters, C. (1999). An Introduction to Ebola: The Virus and the Disease. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 197. Peters, C., & LeDuc, J. (1999). An introduction to Ebola: the virus and the disease. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 179-81. Sanchez, A., Geisbert, C., & Feldman, K. (2007). Filoviridae: Marburg and Ebola. In W. Knipe, & K. Howley, Fields virology, 5th ed (pp. 1409-48). Philadelphia: Williams & Wilkins. Watanabe, S., Noda, T., & Kawaoka, Y. (2006). Functional mapping of the nucleoprotein of Ebola virus. Journal of Virology, 3743-3751. Read More