Ebola Disease Causes, Diagnosis and Symptoms - Essay Example

Ebola al Affiliation) Ebola Ebola is a deadly diseases caused by infection of Ebola virus. The disease was first discovered in Zara and in Yambuku Democratic Republic of Congo. The diseases were again noticed in a village near Ebola River in Democratic Republic of Congo1. The name of the diseases came as a result of the discovery near the river Ebola. The scientific name for the virus is zaire ebolavirus. Ebola virus is classified into ssRNA group, mononegarirales order, filovividae family, ebolavirus genus with several species. Ebola virus family includes three genera including caevavirus, marburyvirus and ebolavirus. The virus have five species identified namely Tai, Ruston, Sudan, Bundibugyo and Zaire. Bundibugyo ebolavirus, Sudan ebolavirus and Zaire ebolavirus have high spread and outbreak i8n Africa. Zaire ebolavirus have currently have outbreaks in Africa2. Ebola cause, diagnosis and symptoms Ebola is caused by low white blood cells and elevated liver enzymes. Diagnosis of the diseases in a person becomes difficult since the early symptoms are not specific to the disease. Fever which is the earliest symptoms of the disease cannot make one be diagnosed of the diseases. Once one has had the early symptoms or got into contact with body fluids of the one affected, the person is isolated and health officials noticed. Samples from the person are taken and examined for the disease3. Samples for test attained from the patients have biohazard risk and are carried in containment conditions. Laboratory diagnosis indicates that the disease results to low white blood cells and elevate liver enzymes4. The virus is only detected in the blood after the early symptoms have shown up, mostly fever which contributes to faster circulation of the virus in the body of the affected. The main symptoms of Ebola include abdominal and stomach pains, lack of appetite, joint and muscle aches, diarrhea, vomiting, fatigue, fever, severe headaches, weakness, impaired liver and kidney functions, sore throat, rash symptoms and hemorrhage associated with unexpected bleeding from the nose or through the urine and bruising. The symptoms appear after 2-21 days after being exposed to the virus with the average being 8-10 days. The spread of Ebola Ebola started from fruit bats of pteropodidae family were it existed naturally. The virus was introduced into the human population through the secretion that the human population came into contact with from the fruit. The wild animals that consumed the fruits were infected with the virus and transferred to the human population who hunted them. Ebola is spread from one person to another when the person come into direct contact with the body fluids and blood of one already affected with the disease or one who is already having the symptoms of the disease5. Transmission of the disease can also be through contact with objects which has been affected by body fluids of the affected. Clothes, beddings, needles, and sharp medical equipment are the objects that cause the spread. Contacting the diseases can be through touch of a dead body which resulted due to the disease6. The family members of the affected have high risk of the virus when not immediately reported. Men who are recovering from the virus are able to pass the virus through their semen when they have sex in a span of 3 months7. Breastfeeding of a mother recovering from the virus are able to pass it to their children through breast milk. People can come into risk of contracting the disease when they come into contact with infected wild animals. Ebola in Africa has spread faster due to handling of wild animals hunted for food. The disease is not airborne nor spread through water, food or mosquito bites. Treatment of Ebola Treatment and recovery from the disease mainly depends on good care in the health units and the response of the patient’s immune system8. When one recovers from Ebola, the person develops antibodies which prevent the infection by the disease for a minimum of ten years. Control infection is a key control in the spreading of the disease. Identification and management of the patient with the disease also puts it under control. Supportive care through oral intravenous fluid increase the duration of survival of Ebola patient9. Treatment of specific signs and symptoms in the patient also increases the chances of survival. Blood products for the patients also treat the disease. Immune and blood therapies have currently been evaluated to treat the virus. A vaccine was developed but it became inactive since it did not promote immune for real pathogen. The main treatment of the virus includes fluid into the blood through veins, giving of oxygen, blood pressure management and blood transfusion. Two current vaccines have been discovered and undergoing safety testing in humans. The main drug for treatment of the disease is not yet discovered. Survival rate of Ebola According to World Health Organization, the survival rate of Ebola virus is about 50 percent but varies greatly from region to region do to difference in the medical resources available for the treatment of the Ebola patients. Due to lack of adequate medical facilities in Africa, the rate ranges from 25 percent to 90 percent. The incubation period for the virus anywhere ranges from 2-21 days with symptoms starting to appear after 8-10 days. African countries affected by Ebola Spread of Ebola virus in Africa started in West Africa with small cases of infection being reported in Nigeria and a single case in Senegal10. Mali reported four cases and four deaths. The other countries that have been severely affected include Gabon, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo, and imported cases to South Africa. Ebola spread started in Guinea and spread across the borders to Sierra Leon and also to Liberia. The spread from Guinea to Liberia was through a passenger who traveled by air to Liberia11. Spread to Senegal was through travel by land. The total number of people diagnosed with Ebola in West Africa has risen to 8000 with current deaths being 5420.Many countries have come to the fight against the disease with successful countries being United States and Kenya. Ebola in United States The first person diagnosed with the disease in the United States was an aid worker who returned to New York from Guinea. Another health worker was again diagnosed with the disease after taking care of a patient. Other three passengers from Guinea were suspected to have the disease and were diagnosed. This makes have three cases with eleven surveillance and 166 possible contacts12. The virus has resulted to the death of 2 people in the united states with 8 recovering from the infection quarantined people are 12 with no active case of the disease at the moment. Cases that have resulted from execution from other countries especially West Africa is 6 people travelling to the United States either as medical officer or normal airline passengers. Doctors Without Border Doctors Without Border was founded by Bernard Kouchmer in December 1971 in Paris France .the organization works mainly in conflict zones during epidemics and long term care taking after a natural disaster13. According to the organization, Ebola in West Africa has currently proven to be the most devastating diseases in history with them reaching the maximum limits of what they could do. The organization responded to Ebola epidemics in March 2014 with major activities in Liberia, Sierra Leon and Guinea. The organization provides technical health support to the ministry of health in the countries. In Liberia the team set up a treatment area in Foya. The team through initiatives has raised funds to be used in the fight on the epidemic. The organization withdrew from Democratic Republic of Congo as the Ebola epidemic came into control in the country. World Health Organization World Health Organization was formed in April 1948and based in Geneva Switzerland14. The organization is a specialized agency mainly concerned with international public health. The organization provides leadership on critical matters to health and form partnership where joint actions are required. Shaping of research agenda and stimulation of the generation of knowledge is a major concern of the organization. The organization sets norms and standards and monitors their implementation. The organization monitors situation pertaining health and also asses’ health trends. World Health Organization through their director embarked on Ebola epidemics in Mali. The organization responded to the virus by increasing the Mali government in support in the fight and reduce transmission from and to across the border. United States involvement in Ebola in West Africa The United States government has assisted in West Africa through the government of the countries to provide human assistance to fight Ebola and prevent its spread to other regions15. The united states through international organization and non-governmental organization. Provides assistance to West Africa. United States military commanders in West Africa have specified places where one that catches the disease are sent for treatment the treatment is through the use of medicine and equipment of the United States. USAID has led the role of the United States in assistance for humanity in West Africa. Field hospitals have been put up and there is training of health workers around the world about the diseases. President Obama proposed an idea and teams are working on it to put up an air bridge to move resources and aid workers to the affected areas of Senegal. Joint Force Command centers have been set up in Monrovia Liberia to provide regional command for the United States16. The United States launched a kit that is used by the health workers in the handling and treatment of the Ebola patients in West Africa17. Lessons learned from international relations Good international relations have enabled the people in West Africa to be treated and get good care. Ebola treatments units have been created in the countries affected which treats and take care of the Ebola patients. International relations have enabled the NGOs involve themselves in the burial procedures of the deceased by supporting the burial units for proper disposal of the bodies18. Outreach programs by the organizations have been set up. The programs have been used to extend services to the community. The affected areas have been able to be helped to better education, psychosocial challenges and food security. Bibliography Blyther, Tiaji. U.S. and International Health Responses to the Ebola Outbreak in West Africa. Washington, D.C.: Congressional Research Service, 2014. Bueche, Shelley. The Ebola Virus. Farmington Hills, MI: Kidhaven Press ;, 2004. Bueche, Shelley. Ebola. San Diego, Calif.: Kidhaven Press, 2004. Guinea. Washington: International Monetary Fund, 2014. Hirschmann, Kris. The Ebola Virus. Detroit, MI: Lucent Books/Thomson Gale, 2007. Levine, Myron M. New Generation Vaccines. 4th ed. New York: Informa Healthcare USA, 2010. Smith, Tara C. Ebola. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2006. Stimola, Aubrey. Ebola. New York: Rosen Pub., 2011. Read More