Disease Ebola in Western parts of Africa - Essay Example

Background of Ebola World Health Organization (WHO) is giving support to all national authorities to strengthen their response to the current outbreak of EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) originally referred to as Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Ebola outbreak is currently proving to be brought by ebolavirus strain with close homology to Zaire ebolavirus (98%). The current outbreak of Ebola is the first one to be spotted in Western parts of Africa. Cases of Ebola virus disease were first detected in forested regions of the southeastern parts of Guinea (Nishiura and Chowell 36). Unfortunately, the outbreak of this killer disease is fast spreading and numerous Conakry and districts have detected cases of it and deaths caused by Ebola virus disease. Few cases and deaths of Ebola have been detected from surrounding countries whereby all of them have crossed from Guinea. All confirmed reported cases are from Liberia and Guinea. Genus Ebolavirus is among the three categories of the so called Filoviridae family (filovirus), together with genus Cuevavirus and genus Marburgvirus. Ebola, which is a highly infectious disease and often deadly in human beings was first confirmed in the year 1976. Since then, Ebola has occurred periodically with numeral cases occurring in countries such as Uganda, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Republic of Congo. Ebola is believed to be caused when an individual is infected with Ebola virus. Ebola virus can be transmitted when an individual has direct contact with another person who is infected with the virus or contact with an infected person’s body fluids. The symptoms of Ebola start typically abruptly and include sore throat, severe headache, fever, and weakness. There is no cure that exists for Ebola, therefore, treatment of Ebola only involves supportive management of the symptoms of this illness while the body of the patient fights the disease. This virus was first detected in the Republic of Congo in the year 1976. However, there are no cases of Ebola virus reported in America. Origin of Ebola virus Cases of Ebola virus disease were first detected in forested regions of the southeastern parts of Guinea. Unfortunately, the outbreak of this killer disease is fast spreading and numerous Conakry and districts have detected cases of it and deaths caused by Ebola virus disease. In addition, scientists have not yet come into terms with Ebola origin, despite the unverified claims that it originated from the bats of the Ebola River found in the Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire (Althaus 45). The outbreak of Ebola started as a single infection in a human being, but it rapidly spread as time went by with the number of the humans infected increasing as well as the infected regions. Ever since the year 1976 when Ebola virus was first confirmed, its outbreaks have appeared sporadically. Confirmed cases of Ebola infections have been detected several African countries, which include Sudan, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon. Confirmed cases of Ebola infections have been detected several African countries, which include Sudan, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon (Nishiura and Chowell 38). History of Ebola There is a specific time in the history of Ebola when the virus was found. According to the belief of many scientists, Ebola virus has been there for quite a long period almost 500 years B.C. The history of this killer disease started in the year 1976 when it was first detected. Its name Ebola came from one of the rivers in the Republic of Congo in Africa, where this virus was first recognized. Since its detection in the year 1976, there have been eighteen confirmed Ebola outbreaks (Althaus 65). Ebola hemorrhagic fever, which is also known as EHF or Ebola is among the contagious diseases in the world and mostly deadly in human beings as well as in non-human primates such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees. According to biological scientists, Ebola outbreaks results from contamination of the Ebola virus. Scientists have categorized Ebola virus in four subtypes, which include Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, and Ebola-Ivory Coast. The fourth subtype of Ebola virus is called Ebola-Reston. This virus subtype has not yet caused illness in human beings, but in nonhuman primates such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and monkeys. Ever since the year 1976 when Ebola virus was first confirmed, its outbreaks have appeared sporadically (Nishiura and Chowell 54). Confirmed cases of Ebola infections have been detected several African countries, which include Sudan, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon. History of Ebola virus in 1970s There were five confirmed outbreaks of Ebola virus during the 1970s as detailed in the following table. Year Ebola subtype Country No. of cases Percentage of deaths Outbreak details 1976 Ebola-Zaire Zaire 317 89% The outbreak occurred in Yambuki and its surrounding region. The virus was highly spread through direct personal contact and usage of contaminated syringes and needles in health centers. This was the first confirmed outbreak of the disease. 1976 Ebola-Sudan Sudan 285 54% The outbreak occurred in areas like Maridi, Nzara, and their surroundings. The virus was highly spread through direct personal contact in health centers. Large number health personnel were also infected. 1976 Ebola-Sudan England 2 0.1% . The virus was highly spread through direct personal contact and usage of contaminated syringes and needles in health centers. 1977 Ebola-Zaire Zaire 2 99% The outbreak was retrospectively noted in Tandala village. 1979 Ebola-Sudan Sudan 35 66% The outbreak occurred in Nzara again the same as in 1976. Ebola history in 1980s In 1980s, there was only one confirmed epidemic of Ebola when infected monkeys were imported in the United State to be used research facilities whereby, many of the researchers were infected with the disease but there were no severe cases. The subtype of this time was Ebola-Reston Ebola history in 1990s There were ten confirmed outbreaks of Ebola Virus in 1990s as the table below details. Year subtype of Ebola state No. of human beings cases Percentage of deaths 1990 Ebola-Reston U.S 1 1% 92 Ebola-Reston Italy 1 1% 94 Ebola-Zaire Gabon 50 60% 94 Ebola-Ivory Coast Ivory Coast 2 1% 95 Ebola-Zaire Zaire 320 85% 96 Ebola-Zaire Gabon 35 70% 96 Ebola-Zaire Gabon 65 80% 96 Ebola-Zaire South Africa 5 54% 96 Ebola-Reston USA 1 0.1% 96 Ebola-Reston Philippines 2 0.5% Ebola history in 2000s There have already been a total of eight confirmed cases of Ebola outbreak according to the following table. Year Subtype of Ebola Country Number of human cases Percentage of deaths 2000 Ebola- Sudan Uganda 430 55% 2001 Ebola-Zaire Gabon 70 85% 2002 Ebola-Zaire Zaire 60 78% 2003 Ebola-Zaire Zaire 145 90% 2003 Ebola-Zaire Zaire 40 85% 2004 Sudan Ebola-Sudan 20 45% 2007 Ebola-Zaire Zaire 265 73% 2007/Jan. 2008 Uganda Ebola 150 30% Works cited Althaus, Christian L. "Estimating the reproduction number of Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) during the 2014 outbreak in West Africa." arXiv preprint arXiv:1408.3505 (2014). Nishiura, H., and Chowell, G.. "Early transmission dynamics of Ebola virus disease (EVD), West Africa, March to August 2014." Euro Surveill 19 (2014): 36-50. Read More