What is the reservoir for the Ebola virus? Can it spread to household pets?
According to studies, the Ebola virus is zoonotic (animal-borne) pathogen, with bats being the preferred reservoir, especially the African Fruit Bat. The virus can spread to dogs, but research shows they are symptomatic. Dogs can also spread the disease, during its early stages, to humans through body fluids (CDC, n.d.).
2. What cells does it attack in our bodies?
Once in the human body, the Ebola virus targets particular cell categories, including cells of the immune system, liver (hepatic) cells, as well as endothelial cells that line the inner part of the blood vessels (CDC, n.d.).
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3. Exactly how does it gain access to our bodies? How does it get through intact skin?
The Ebola virus mainly enters the human body through direct or close contact with contaminated body fluids such as blood, vomit, and faces. However, low levels of the virus have also been detected in semen, milk, and urine. The virus can enter the body either through injured skins parts, including abrasions or cuts, or through the mucous membrane such as nose, mouth, and eye (CDC, n.d.).
4. How long does the virus remain infectious after it is outside the body on an inanimate surface?
The Ebola virus can remain active for five days in dried blood or up to two weeks in liquid blood outside of the host's body. However, humidity, temperature, and other climatic factors influence their survival. Extremely high and humid western climates lower these survival rates (CDC, n.d.).
5. Update the class on one of the experimental drugs or vaccines.
There is no known specific drug or vaccine for the Ebola virus at present. However, the CDC recommends the use of a range of medical interventions like balancing body electrolytes by use of IV salts as well as managing blood pressure and oxygen levels. However, there are trials on Brincidofovir, a nucleotide analog designed to address conditions caused by DNA double-stranded viruses (Dunning et al., 2016). 6. Describe the methodology used in the latest laboratory test. If an individual tests negative after returning from West Africa after coming in contact with Ebola patients, can they still be infectious to others?
Diagnosis of Ebola virus during the early stages is challenging because its symptoms like headaches, fever, and fatigue are exhibited in people with other conditions like typhoid and malaria. Thus, for the correct diagnosis, patients showing visible symptoms must confirm to have traveled from prone areas within the past 21 days. They must also be evidence of contact with the individual, blood, or body fluids of infected people. Such suspects should be isolated, and laboratory tests carried out to confirm the virus. It is also essential to understand individuals can sometimes be asymptomatic but can infect others after contact with Ebola patients (CDC, n.d.).
7. Describe the epidemiology of the Ebola virus. Which countries caseload are declining and which countries are increasing?
The Ebola Virus is common among Western, Central, and Eastern countries. The Zaire ebolavirus is the most common and was responsible for the famous 2014 West Africa attack. The Sudan ebolavirus is another outbreak that has docked the eastern African region, with about 425 cases reported in Uganda in 2000. However, the prevalence and fatality rates of this virus are dwindling (BMJ Best Practice, n.d.).
8. Describe the current case-fatality rates for this current outbreak
The Zaire ebolavirus is up-to-date the longest and the deadliest since the inception of gene sequencing. In as a recent as August 2018, cases of the virus were reported in the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo). About 580 cases were reported by January 2019 with 628 deaths. The Zaire ebolavirus is showing no signs of slowing down (BMJ Best Practice, n.d.).
References
BMJ Best Practice. (n.d.). Ebola virus infection. Retrieved from https://bestpractice.bmj.com/topics/en-us/1210/epidemiology
CDC. (n.d.). Ebola (Ebola Virus disease): Diagnosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/diagnosis/index.html
Dunning, J., et al. (2016). Experimental treatment of Ebola Virus disease with Brincidofovir. PLOS One, 11 (9). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5017617/
