Ebola – The Epidemic Fear

• The world under siege of some deadly viruses
• The causes and probabilities
• Impact and results
• Cure-still under research

World health is threatened by some very dangerous life taking diseases like- Swine Flu, Avian Flu, Dengue, Bird flu, etc, and one most feared disease is Ebola.

One of the impacts of environmental and socio-economic changes on human health is the spread of the virus EBOLA, formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever.

Ebola virus, causes fever, body aches, and diarrhea, and sometimes bleeding inside and outside the body. As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs causing levels of blood-clotting cells to drop.

Bleeding; Vomiting; Diarrhoea; Rash etc. are the symptoms of the disease.

The first Ebola virus species was discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Ebola virus disease outbreaks occur mainly in villages in Central and West Africa and have a mortality rate up to 90%.

How does the transmission of Ebola work?

It is found that wild animals transmit the Ebola virus to people, and the virus spreads in the human population through human contact.

A person is contagious from the early stages. Survivors remain contagious for days after symptoms go away. Some patients have detectable virus in the semen and in the eyes for many months, but the contagious period related to this viral presence is unknown.

The risk increases if a person travels to or lives in Africa where Ebola virus disease outbreaks have occurred.

An infected patient can spread the virus in several ways to others. People can become exposed to the virus through direct contact with a sick person’s blood or other body fluids, such as urine, saliva, feces, vomit, and semen

Diagnosing Ebola virus disease in a patient in the first few days is difficult because the signs and symptoms are common.

If a patient has risk factors for exposure to the Ebola virus and is suspected to be infected with it, then samples from the patient can be collected to confirm the diagnosis.

What is the treatment for Ebola?

There is no confirmed drug or vaccine available, but health researchers are testing experimental probable cure. And as, an exact cure is yet to be found, the best is to try to avoid the spread, (prevention is better than cure).

However, as it is said that treatment for Ebola virus disease is still limited to supportive therapy in an intensive care unit, which includes-

• Intravenous (IV) fluids and Electrolytes to treat dehydration.
• Maintaining blood pressure.
• Providing oxygen.
• Replacing blood through transfusions, and treating additional infections that may develop subsequently.

Since 2015, The World Health Organization (WHO) has been conducting trials for an effective experimental vaccine to fight the virus. And surely we will find a cure soon.

What precaution to take to avoid Ebola?

To avoid traveling to places infected with the virus. And above all to maintain a very strong immune system.

And to maintain a very strong immune system we need to keep good health from inside. And take measures, which help us develop a strong immune system, like a strong balanced diet, exercise, avoid drugs, smoking, alcohol, etc.