For this assignment, I will focus on the topic of Ebola Virus as a new form of bioterrorism. Bioterrorism refers to the use of biological agents to attack a certain group or population. Normally, the aim is to instill an illness or fear of an illness in order to intimidate, gain advantage, interfere with the normal activities or achieve some ideological goals. The exposure to these biological agents causes effects that range from acute adverse manifestations to mild illnesses or even death. Naturally, biological agents are complex and perpetrators consider the means of disseminating them and the degree of fear, which best suits their goals.
In the United States, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies Ebola as a potential biological agent used to perpetrate bioterrorism. Ebola is a rare but a deadly disease that attacks both humans and nonhumans. Mainly, the viruses that cause Ebola are concentrated in the Sub Saharan Africa region. This disease is spread mainly through direct contact with an infected human or animal, or a dead person with the virus. Common symptoms of the disease include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, muscle pain, bruising and bleeding. Currently, Ebola does not have any approved treatment or vaccine. But, numerous empirical and clinical trials are underway. Ebola researchers have focused on locating the natural host of the virus, discovering vaccines to protect at-risk individuals and populations, as well as developing therapies to enhance treatment. Mainly, Ebola treatment is primarily based on supportive clinical care.
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According to available researches, the first documented Ebola outbreak occurred in 1976 in Congo and Sudan. Since then, sporadic outbreaks of this nature have been recorded primarily in West and Central Africa. However, the Ebola outbreak that hit West Africa in 2014 posed an unmatched threat. Actually, it signaled the likelihood of a worldwide epidemic. Though there have been global efforts to contain this disease, emerging data mapping suggests that the rate of infection is rising and its geographic distribution is widening.
