Ebola Scare in Africa
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
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Even though it happens to be that this is not the first time the Ebola Virus has found its way through the shores of Africa, its latest development has been that of an alarming one. As it stands now a handful of West African countries has been affected namely Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
It is believed that Ebola first emerged in Sudan and Zaire in 1976. The name Ebola was named after the Zaire River called "Ebola River" The first outbreak of Ebola is said to have infected 284 people with a mortality rate of 53%. The second emergence of Ebola was reported in Yambuku, Zaire. Ebola-Zaire (EBOZ) recorded the highest mortality rate of any of the Ebola viruses (88%) infected 318 people. The third strain of Ebola, Ebola Reston (EBOR), was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia, from Mindanao in the Philippines. Ebola has found its way in the annals of West Africa and the Africa at large. The '2014 outbreak' of the Ebola has been a major threat to not only Africa but the World at large. Ghana in this regard is no exception to the threats of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) taking into cognizance that we are bounded by neighboring Ebola stricken Countries.
It is believed that Ebola first emerged in Sudan and Zaire in 1976. The name Ebola was named after the Zaire River called "Ebola River" The first outbreak of Ebola is said to have infected 284 people with a mortality rate of 53%. The second emergence of Ebola was reported in Yambuku, Zaire. Ebola-Zaire (EBOZ) recorded the highest mortality rate of any of the Ebola viruses (88%) infected 318 people. The third strain of Ebola, Ebola Reston (EBOR), was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia, from Mindanao in the Philippines. Ebola has found its way in the annals of West Africa and the Africa at large. The '2014 outbreak' of the Ebola has been a major threat to not only Africa but the World at large. Ghana in this regard is no exception to the threats of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) taking into cognizance that we are bounded by neighboring Ebola stricken Countries.
As the Ebola epidemic frenzies, two questions have surface: How did the noxious virus escape detection for three months? And why has a mammoth global interventions fail to contain it?
In Guinea, the case started in a small village (Meliandou) in the Forest region of southern Guinea. Bush meat has long been a common source of food for this village and they had it in bounty. But in the dying days of December the ordinary life in Meliandou came to an end when the Ebola virus gave a smooth landing in the village most likely in the body of a fruit bat-its natural non-human reservoir, according to a practical consensus among scientists. Ebola is one of the lethal viruses known to the world of Medical science, with no specific cure and mortality rates of up to 90 percent of affected people.
But the whodunit today is not how the epidemic began-it is why an unwavering attempt by an army of global connoisseurs is being futile. Part of the answer is the chameleon-like character the virus displays in this part of the world. An even larger part lies in the global response itself. It was swift and comprehensive; exactly what you would anticipate. But there was a bewildering reaction that enervated everything the experts sought to achieve; and at the same time hoodwinked many of them into believing they had prospered in their aims. Finally they fathomed the truth. By then it was too late.
In Guinea, the case started in a small village (Meliandou) in the Forest region of southern Guinea. Bush meat has long been a common source of food for this village and they had it in bounty. But in the dying days of December the ordinary life in Meliandou came to an end when the Ebola virus gave a smooth landing in the village most likely in the body of a fruit bat-its natural non-human reservoir, according to a practical consensus among scientists. Ebola is one of the lethal viruses known to the world of Medical science, with no specific cure and mortality rates of up to 90 percent of affected people.
But the whodunit today is not how the epidemic began-it is why an unwavering attempt by an army of global connoisseurs is being futile. Part of the answer is the chameleon-like character the virus displays in this part of the world. An even larger part lies in the global response itself. It was swift and comprehensive; exactly what you would anticipate. But there was a bewildering reaction that enervated everything the experts sought to achieve; and at the same time hoodwinked many of them into believing they had prospered in their aims. Finally they fathomed the truth. By then it was too late.
Jeffrey E. Stern reports that the outbreak started when a few tiny rod-shaped particles; each merely an attack plan coded in ribonucleic acid and wrapped in a protein shell: found their way from a fruit bat into the body of a child not yet two years old. Perhaps, while the mother was preparing the day's hunt, some of the bat's blood was flung in the child's direction. Perhaps, while the mother's attention was elsewhere, the child touched the animal, then brought his hand to his mouth, the way babies do. Either way, a few strands of the Ebola virus attached themselves to cells in the child's immune system and used the cells' machinery to replicate. The boy developed a fever, then diarrhea and vomiting. His organs began to fail. He began to bleed internally and went into septic shock. In four days, he was dead
Until 2014, the deadliest Ebola outbreak on record had killed 280 people. As of this writing, 3,091 people have died from Ebola during the current West African outbreak, out of 6,574 confirmed cases, a report by World Health Organization (WHO). When Ebola strikes, it kills quickly, but it can take up to three weeks to incubate, and usually around 10 days.
How do you get the Ebola virus?
Direct contact with:
Body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola (blood, vomit, pee, poop, sweat, semen, spit, other fluids).
Objects contaminated with the virus (needles, medical equipment). Infected animals (by contact with blood or fluids or infected meat)
Early Symptoms: Ebola can only be spread to others after symptoms begin. Symptoms can appear from 2 to 21 days after exposure. Fever, Headache, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Stomach pain, unexplained bleeding or bruising Muscle pain. Ebola only spreads when people are sick. A patient must have symptoms to spread the disease to others.
Neil Gower also reports that Ebola can't be detected in the blood until symptoms show. An epidemic can start slowly and go unnoticed for weeks. This presupposes that one can have the Ebola virus and still not be detected. So now the question is, if people have the virus which can go unnoticed for weeks how can screening be detect it?
How do you get the Ebola virus?
Direct contact with:
Body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola (blood, vomit, pee, poop, sweat, semen, spit, other fluids).
Objects contaminated with the virus (needles, medical equipment). Infected animals (by contact with blood or fluids or infected meat)
Early Symptoms: Ebola can only be spread to others after symptoms begin. Symptoms can appear from 2 to 21 days after exposure. Fever, Headache, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Stomach pain, unexplained bleeding or bruising Muscle pain. Ebola only spreads when people are sick. A patient must have symptoms to spread the disease to others.
Neil Gower also reports that Ebola can't be detected in the blood until symptoms show. An epidemic can start slowly and go unnoticed for weeks. This presupposes that one can have the Ebola virus and still not be detected. So now the question is, if people have the virus which can go unnoticed for weeks how can screening be detect it?
If the virus had failed in its first attempt in some years back, this time it is gaining momentum elsewhere, spreading through the forests and venturing dangerously close to international borders. It now behooves on us all to adhere to strict Ebola prevention methods given by Medical experts. For now, no known effective drug has been recommended as a cure to Ebola even though there has been some experimental drugs which is said to be effective in its own way. Until then, we have to stick to the common saying "prevention is better than cure."
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