Ebola

No doubt, we are all concerned about the stories on the news concerning Ebola. With our concern, it is important to stay informed.

In Africa, the Ebola virus lives in bats without doing any harm to the host. People eat bats in Africa. Therefore, the Ebola virus can get into the human population.

Process of Infection

• Virus gets into system via contact of infected person’s bodily fluids.

• Virus multiples at a rate of millions per day (up to 21 days).

• Host can spread the virus without showing a symptoms.

Early Symptoms of Virus

• Nausea

• Headache

• Cough

• Body Aches

• Fever

• Sweating

• Diarrhea

The virus eventually saturates blood cells, skin, bones and lining of your vessel causing your body to shut down.

Later Symptoms of Virus

• Internal and External Bleeding

• Eyes Become Red

• Vomit Blood

• Bloody Diarrhea

• Cardiovascular Collapse

Ebola is not airborne like other viruses like Polio and Smallpox, for example. This virus more resembles the flu or cold in that you have to come into direct contact with the infected person’s bodily fluids.

How Does Ebola Spread?

Contact with Bodily Fluids

1) It can spread without the infected person showing symptoms in the early stages of infection.

2) Droplets: When someone sneezes or cough they can let out droplets. If 1 droplet gets into your eyes, your mouth, your nose or an open wound, you will get infected.

3) Microscopic Mucous: In the same way as droplets, if you come into contact with an infected person’s mucous, you will get infected.

4) Some research suggests the Ebola virus can live up to 4 days outside of the host.

*Note: Some research suggests that there is no known Ebola transmission through coughing or sneezing, like with influenza or tuberculosis. The virus can live on surfaces that are soiled with blood or other body fluids.

Ebola Facts

• Ebola kills 50% of it’s victims.

• The countries of Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, have reported 7,470 cases of Ebola as of October 1, 2014, according to the World Health Organization.?

• This emerging health threat is the result of a RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus that infects wild animals: fruit bats, monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees.

• New Ebola medications are in development. One of the drugs is called ZMapp.

• There is no vaccine to prevent Ebola.

 

For more information on Ebola, you can go to the CDC website.