EBOLA Kyle Draves

Pathogen Zaire Ebola Virus  Also known as EBOV  One of five viruses of the genus Ebolavirus  EBOV is most virulent of the five; the one that is making headlines

Disease  Ebola causes Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)  This disease is also referred to as hemorrhagic fever and EBOV

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Ebola; A Brief Background  Named after the Ebola river  First identified in 1976 when two outbreaks occurred simultaneously in Zaire and Sudan  Zaire experienced an 88% mortality rate (280 of 318)

In 1989 Ebola made it’s way to the U.S.  In Virginia, a laboratory housing primates was victimized by an Ebola strain  This variant quickly killed the monkeys  Luckily, the airborne pathogen proved to be ineffective in humans

 The WHO has recorded 25 outbreaks since 1976  The current outbreak is affecting six countries; Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, United States of America and Spain  Guinea experienced the first outbreak in 2014

Timeline of Ebola’s Systemic Takeover  Once inside the host, EBOV replicates it’s RNA  First, the virus attacks the immune system  When the body can no longer fight back, the lymph nodes, spleen and liver are taken and succumb to EBOV’s cytotoxic effects  In 4-5 days, the host becomes hemorrhagic

Do I have Ebola? Misleading Early Signs  Fever  Headache  Vomiting  Diarrhea Soon Followed By  Shock  Cerebral edema  Coagulation disorders  Secondary bacterial infections

Once Incubation is Complete… Symptoms more obviously indicate an Ebola infection as the inflicted experience;  Ocular diseases  Rash  Aborted fetuses  Inability to coagulate  Bleeding from orifices  Multiple organ failure  Terminal shock

The time from infection to the emergence of symptoms can occur between 2-21 days

Transmission  Ebola Virus is spread through bodily fluid  Portals of entry include;  Breaks in the skin  Mucus membranes  The virus can live outside of the body

Reservoir of Infection  The natural reservoir is unknown  Vectors are unknown  Fruit bats and insects of the rainforest are theorized carriers

Can Ebola be Cured? Unfortunately, there is no cure or vaccination for Ebola

Should We be Worried?  Although the 2014 outbreak is the biggest to date…  The epidemic is actually below the average virulence for all other outbreaks  55% versus 67% (mean)case fatality rate  An estimated deaths of cases

Is Ebola going to become a global pandemic? You decide… 1. Ebola is not airborne 2. On average, only 1.5 people are affected by the sick 3. Outbreaks are small 4. The survival rate is increases

Sources  rse_id=_4491_1&content_id=_332767_1 rse_id=_4491_1&content_id=_332767_1  pandemic pandemic      