Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a typical infection that is Spartan, frequently deadly in humans. The virus is also an extremely virulent zoonotic pathogen that is a significant public health threat in the Regions of Equatorial Africa (Choi and Croyle, 2013). The first outbreak of Ebola was in 1976 that occurred concurrently in the parts of Sudan, Nzara, and Yambuku in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Ebola virus was reported for the second time in an individual community that is located along the Ebola River. It was from this river that the disease got its name. Since then, cases of EVD have not been reported among the humankind living in the Asian continent. But according to frequent global travel, the outbreaks of Ebola could spread to Asia. The virus falls in biosafety level-4 pathogens abbreviated BSL-4 risk group 4. It has a fatality rate of 65%, though it can also be as high as 90% (CDC, 2014). Although the disease outbreaks have occurred repeatedly, the researchers are yet to provide medically ratified post-exposure and pre-exposure interventions. However, the human race is hoping that the ongoing studies will offer a permanent solution to the virus.
Geographical distribution
The outbreaks of EVD mostly occur in remote villages located in Central parts of Africa. Another area where the virus has been reported is West Africa, particularly in regions that lie along the tropical rainforest. Notably, wild animals such as the bats are the primary hosts this virus. Therefore, humans contract the virus they become exposed to the host animal. On the other hand, the disease can continue to spread within the human population if a healthy individual encounters the fluids from an infected person. As from 2008, there has been the detection of the Reston Ebola virus during several outbreaks in pigs both in China and in the Philippines. However, no reports of illness or death in humans living in these regions have been reported to date.
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Agent
The virus belongs to the Filoviridae family (filovirus). The virus contains five different families namely; Zaire Ebola virus (EBOV), Bundibugyo Ebola virus (BDBV), Reston Ebola virus (RESTV), Sudan Ebola virus (SUDV), and the Tai Forest Ebola virus ( TAFV) (Mishra, 2014). Four of these subtypes namely such as the BDBV, EBOV, and the SUDV are prevalent in Africa where they are hosted in wild animals. These strains of viruses have been found to cause significant outbreaks of EVD in African regions, unlike the two viruses, RESTV, and TAFV which have rarely been detected in the African region.
Risk factors and mode of transmission
Typically, when humans come to contact with fruit bats or monkeys that host the virus, they will be infected with EVD. Additionally, feeding on the fresh uncooked meat from wildlife also gives the virus a chance to access the human body (Macneil and Rollin, 2012). Furthermore, direct or close contact with body fluids of individuals who are infected will also cause transmission of the virus. It specifically takes place through contact with body fluids and blood of a patient that has the virus. Healthcare workers caring for infected patients are not considered safe when improper control measures were taken. Furthermore, people who work in laboratories that handle contaminated materials and are not wearing protective gears are subject to contracting the disease. Besides, workers, who are running such experiments without taking into account the biosafety measures, stand a higher risk of becoming infected.
Clinical signs and symptoms
The Ebola virus is a simple pathological infection that is mostly considered when the fever starts, the followed by extreme weakness, severe headaches, pain in the muscles and sore throat. Other effects that follow are vomiting, diarrhea, decreased kidney and liver occupation. The disease is widely known to cause internal bleeding and external bleeding on the patient carrying the virus. Externally, infected individuals will be oozing blood from body orifices. Laboratory results show that EVD patients have low white blood cell as well as thrombolytic counts. The liver, on the other hand, will have elevated enzymes secretions. It is imperative to understand that once the virus enters the body fluids of an individual, that particular individual becomes infectious. Research has also found that men who succumbed from the disease can are capable of transmitting the virus via semen for seven weeks after recovery. The period of incubation is estimated to be ranging amongst 2 to 21days.
Treatment
Infected patients require intensive supportive care that is strict. The patients dehydrate frequently and need oral rehydration with liquids full of electrolytes or arterial juices. There is no treatment licensed specifically for treating both humans and animals.
Avoidance and regulation
The vaccines for the Ebola virus have not yet been found yet both for humans and animals (Choi and Croyle, 2013). However, educating the community on the factors of infection and risks of Ebola is important when there is no recommended treatment and vaccines. Taking protective measures among individuals is the best methodology to reduce new infections as well as deaths that may come due to infections. Regressively, cases of transmission to workers in hospitals when inappropriate contagion measures of control are taken have also been noted. It should be pointed out that it is hard to identify individuals suffering from EVD since the initials signs may be inaccurate. This is the reason why workers in health centers are asked to be concerned with standard precautions endlessly with every patient irrespective of their judgment all the times during their work practices (Chowel & Nishiura, 2014). The use of essential hand cleanliness, respiratory sanitation, personal protective gears, as well as, safe injection practices. Extractions from patients suspected to be affected with the virus for laboratory testing needs to be guarded strictly. Besides, such testing needs to be carried out by experienced and educated staff and to be processed in recommended laboratories.
When it comes to individuals, animals that are suspected or tested to contain the virus are to be handled with gloves and protective clothing that are tested to be appropriate. Hands should be covered with gloves when handling patients with the EBV and also equipment that is protecting from the virus is necessary (Chowell, & Nishiura, 2014). When healthcare workers are done nursing home patients or visiting the infected in hospitals, regular hand wash with recommended detergents is required.
On public control, the community affected by the virus should quickly notify the population about the origin of the infection. Besides, there is the need for the community members to be educated on methods that can be adopted to contain the disease. This may require the inhabitants to be informed of the measures that need to be put in place when handling the corpse of infected persons. It is imperative to ensure that bodies of people who die from EVD are buried safely and promptly (Chowell, & Nishiura, 2014). Additionally, in areas where RESTV has been reported in pigs, there should be effective regular hygiene and disinfection of farm sectors that host pigs or monkeys. This is done by using sodium hydrochloride or other detergents. Thorough cooking of all animal products be it fiber, blood and milk are required before consumption (Mishra, 2014). There should be more focus on educational communal health messages to minimize the risk of a pig-human transmission. This is to be done to avoid unsafe husbandry, slaughtering practices, and consumption of raw foods from animals that are considered dangerous.
Conclusion
Ebola virus disease is a unique disease that shows severe symptoms. The disease is fatal and prevalent in central and some western parts of Africa. As this paper has demonstrated that, the primary host for the virus is wild animals such as the fruit bats and apes. Any form of contact between human and the infected animal leads to transmission of the virus to the healthy person. Therefore, people in areas that are prone to attack need to avoid contact with fluids and flesh from host animals to prevent the occurrence of the disease. Additionally, the virus can also be transmitted from one person to another. This is true where a healthy individual comes into contact with body fluids from an infected person. In this respect, proper hygiene will serve as a primary measure to avoid the development of new attacks. Lastly, a worker in areas that handle materials with the virus need to keep on their protective gears and follow the set biosafety protocols to ensure their workplace safety.
Reference
Choi, J. H., & Croyle, M. A. (2013). Emerging targets and novel approaches to Ebola virus prophylaxis and treatment. BioDrugs , 27 (6), 565-583.
Chowell, G., & Nishiura, H. (2014). Transmission dynamics and control of Ebola virus disease (EVD): a review. BMC Medicine , 12 (1), 1.
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC). (2014). Outbreak of Ebola virus diseases in West Africa . CDC 2014, Seventh update, Stockholm. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/health/preparedness_response/docs/ebola_riskassessment_en.pdf.
MacNeil, A., & Rollin, P. E. (2012). Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers: neglected tropical diseases? PLoS Negl Trop Dis , 6 (6), e1546.
Mishra, B. (2014). The threat of Ebola: An update. Indian Journal of medical microbiology , 32 (4), 364.
