Ebola
Caused by the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus
Ebola Overview
Ebolavirus is an acute, infectious, hemorrhagic viral fever. In general, to survive, viruses must find a host cell and take it over. The virus also replicates itself so that it can be spread to other host cells. In response to a virus, the human body produces antibodies. Antibodies are the protein referred to as some as the workhorses of the immune system. Usually these antibodies can fight off the virus, but the problem with Ebola is is that it replicates so quickly that your immune system can not handle the virus. Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected blood or body fluids; the virus is not transmitted through the air. The most contaminant bodily fluids are thought to be saliva, feces, and blood.
Symptoms of Ebola
Symptoms of this virus include fever, severe headache, weakness, muscle pain, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal (stomach) pain, and unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding/bruising).
More Symptoms
Here are some more symptoms of the virus.
Treatments
Symptoms of Ebola and complications are treated as they appear. There are certain things doctors do that significantly increase the chance of the patient surviving. When done early IV and electrolytes can be used to increase the chances of the patient surviving. Doctors also try to maintain oxygen status and blood pressure.
Vaccines/Antivirals
There is no known vaccine or antiviral that is known to cure this virus yet, but scientists are continually working to find one.
Ways to Prevent Contracting Ebola
Practice careful hygiene. Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids. Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola. Avoid contact with bats and nonhuman primates or blood, fluids, and raw meat prepared from these animals. Avoid facilities in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on facilities. Avoid contact with semen from a man who has had Ebola until you know Ebola is gone from his semen. After you return, monitor your health for 21 days and seek medical care immediately if you develop symptoms.
Occurrence
Ebola is not regional, it does not affect a particular age, it does not affect a specific ethnicity, it does not affect a specific gender, and it does not affect specific plants or animals. Ebola is transmitted through physical contact of an infected organism's bodily fluids
Prognosis
The ebolavirus usually takes 2-21 days to start affecting a human body. This period is called the incubation period and the organism can not infect another living thing with the virus during this time. The organism only becomes contagious once the symptoms start. The virus can live up to several days in a human's bodily fluids at room temperature. About 90% of the people infected with Ebola end up dying. There is a very little survival rate and the survival rate decreases rapidly if you do not seek treatment as soon as possible.