Post on 25-Dec-2015
Pathogen
Zaire Ebola Virus Also known as EBOV One of five viruses of the genus Ebolavirus EBOV is most virulent of the
five; the one that is making headlines
Disease
Ebola causes Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD)
This disease is also referred to as
hemorrhagic fever and EBOV
Ebola; A Brief Background
Named after the Ebola river First identified in 1976 when two
outbreaks occurred simultaneously in Zaire and Sudan
Zaire experienced an 88% mortality rate
(280 of 318)
In 1989 Ebola made it’s way to the U.S.
In Virginia, a laboratory housing primates was victimized by an Ebola strain
This variant quickly killed the monkeys
Luckily, the airborne pathogen proved to be ineffective in humans
The WHO has recorded 25 outbreaks since 1976
The current outbreak is affecting six countries; Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, United States of America and Spain
Guinea experienced the first outbreak in 2014
Timeline of Ebola’s Systemic Takeover Once inside the host, EBOV
replicates it’s RNA First, the virus attacks the immune
system When the body can no longer fight
back, the lymph nodes, spleen and liver are taken and succumb to EBOV’s cytotoxic effects
In 4-5 days, the host becomes hemorrhagic
Do I have Ebola?
Misleading Early Signs Fever Headache Vomiting Diarrhea
Soon Followed By Shock Cerebral edema Coagulation
disorders Secondary
bacterial infections
Once Incubation is Complete…Symptoms more obviously indicate an Ebola infection as the inflicted experience; Ocular diseases Rash Aborted fetuses Inability to coagulate Bleeding from orifices Multiple organ failure Terminal shock
Transmission
Ebola Virus is spread through bodily fluid
Portals of entry include; Breaks in the skin Mucus membranes
The virus can live outside of the body
Reservoir of Infection
The natural reservoir is unknown Vectors are unknown Fruit bats and insects of the rainforest are theorized carriers
Should We be Worried? Although the 2014 outbreak is
the biggest to date… The epidemic is actually below
the average virulence for all other outbreaks 55% versus 67% (mean)case
fatality rate An estimated 10314 deaths of
24877 cases
Is Ebola going to become a global pandemic?You decide…1. Ebola is not airborne2. On average, only 1.5 people
are affected by the sick3. Outbreaks are small4. The survival rate is increases
Sources
https://mycourses.rcgc.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?course_id=_4491_1&content_id=_332767_1
http://www.newsweek.com/study-suggests-ebola-unlikely-become-global-pandemic-266238
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2014/08/13/ebola/
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28755033
https://contagions.wordpress.com/2014/10/18/ebolas-chain-of-infection/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/jvchamary/2014/10/13/ebola-trends/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola_virus
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/