America’s Greatest Fear Essay

The Ebola virus was spy in the late 1970s by the supranational community as the causative agent of major bams of hemorrhagic feverishness in Africas Sudan and Democratic state of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan (Vasilyevich IV, et al. 2005). Immediately, the International scientific teams moved in to deal with these high schoolly virulent epidemics where their findings revealed that the transmission had exp mavinntially ceased however, the team could non reconstruct a considerable data from the survivors of the epidemic. The high death rate of checkup staff resulted to the closure of many medical facilities, thus doing away with major centers for dissemination of infection through the ingestion of untreated needles, syringes and the lack of barrier-nursing techniques. The deadly Ebola virus is killing thousands of innocent mint worldwide, entirely in that respect atomic number 18 steps being taken to balk the virus from spreading. In 1989, Ebola virus was report in the joine d States of the States when it attended in monkeys who were imported into a Reston, Virginia, primate facility outside of Washington, DC.Epidemics in monkeys which occurred in this facility and new(prenominal)s lasted through 1992 (Georges, 1997) and recurred in 1996. Later, epidemiologic studies were conducted in radio link with both epidemics and they successfully traced the virus introductions to one Philippine exporter. However, the studies failed to detect the true(a) cause and source of the virus. Due to political instability, scientists attempts to work in the impertinent areas where the monkeys were seized fall in been too small. Laboratory studies were stimulated in order to avow these introduced virus outbreaks which were realized in 1989 and chimpanzee inbreed in the 1990s in order to improve diagnosis of non benignant primate infections (Fields, et Al 1996). However, it has not been confirmed since the materials that were necessary to definitively confirm the uti lity of these techniques for humans were not provided. later on Ebola hemorrhagic fever was discovered in Africa between 1976 and 1979, it was not seen again until the year 1994. It is believed by scientists that during this beat, possibly it was circulating in its natural reservoir.On the other make, the virus might pick up been causing sporadic human infections that remained undetected because Ebola patients never contaminated medical facilities to produce the savage nosocomial epidemics that brought Ebola virus to medical attention. Between 1981 and 1985, Ebolavirus surveillance was carried out simultaneously with intensified efforts to contain monkey pox (Vasilyevich IV, et al. 2005). This surveillance may lease identified several eludings and estimated the prevalence among the population however, the findings are subject to caveats because of problems with the inclemency of laboratory tests. Serosurveillance in 1995 in any quality suggested that human infections may h ave occurred from time to time. It is believed that the Ebola virus may have initially been transmitted to humans from bats (Renaud AA, et al. 199) Bioinformatics researchers all over the world especially those at Lancaster University in the United Kingdom, have found that there is a concrete circumstantial case that says infection by bats is likely, but renowned scientists havent actually found strong evidence to support this hypothesis.During the period of 19941996, close five independent active sites of Ebola virus transmission were identified Cte dIvoire in 1994 Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1995 (Georges, 1997) and Gabon in 1994, 1995, and 1996 . The initially know Zaire subtype of Ebola virus and the newly discovered Cte dIvoire subtype were both involved in the report, and as in previous Afri offer Ebola virus transmissions, the active sites were within or near tropical forests, for instance along riverine forests. Ebola outbreaks have been reported since its discove ry in late 1970s. The first outbreak happened in 1976 in the Republic of Congo. The disease was spread by close mortalal turn over. there were 318 reported cases and 280 of the bulk died as a result of the virus. Years later in 1995 the Republic of Congo had yet another outbreak. This time 250 of the people infect died. In 2001 in Uganda Ebola appeared out of nowhere. There were 425 reported cases of the virus, 224 of the reported cases finish in death. The biggest outbreak came as of recently, this year. There was a widespread outbreak across West African countries. Over 9,000 reported cases came from this outbreak, 4,800 of the cases resulted in death.There were few people who came in contact with the Ebola virus that were from the United States. The Ebola virus mainly attacks cells of the lymphatic organs, liver, kidney, ovaries, testes, and the cells of the reticuloendothelial system. A trademark of Ebola is liver destruction. The person infect person with the virus loses a big amount of blood. In whatever of the deadly cases shock and acute respiratory disorder is prevalent. Some of the victims can be delirious from the high fevers. Many people die fromthe indomitable shock.Research make on infectious Ebola and Marburg viruses are always done in a maximum biological containment setup popularly known as Biosafety Level 4. Biosafety Level 4 laboratories require extremely narrow down equipment to keep the spread of the pathogens that are investigated in them. Ebola is stable and remains infective at room temperature (20C), but it is mostly destroyed at 60C (Fields, et Al 1996) Its infectivity is also terminated by gamma and ultraviolet radiation radiation, lipid solvents, -propiolactone, and commercial hypochlorite and phenolic disinfectants. Currently there is no FDA-approved vaccinum available for Ebola, it is better for prevalent measures be taken as a way of reducing Ebola infections. There are numerous ways to prevent yourself from Ebola. Practice superintendful hygiene hands should be washed good with soap and clean water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Try as much as you can and keep down contact with blood and frame fluids from uncertain people.Avoid handling items that may have come in contact with an infected persons blood or corpse fluids, such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment carelessly. Some bats are believed to be reservoirs of Ebola Virus and therefore avoid contact with such bats and other nonhuman primates or raw meat prepared from these animals. Tourists and travelers should avoid facilities in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. Healthcare workers who may be handling people infected with Ebola follow certain steps to keep in line that they do not come in contact with the virus. It is recommended for one to wear off appropriate personal fosterive equipment including impermeable gowns, gloves, and masks. Before being allowed to care for infected patients all w orkers moldiness observe proper infection visit and sterilization measures. Patients with Ebola must be isolated from other patients following austere contact and droplet isolation procedures.Members of the heath care team cannot come into contact with blood or body fluids, such as, feces, saliva, urine, vomit, and semen of a person who is infected with Ebola. People who have been infected and survived the Ebola virus can also spread the virus through semen for at least xc days after being declared virus free. The symptoms Ebola are fever, diarrhea, vomiting, inexorable headache, weakness, fatigue, muscle pain, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Thesesymptoms are one of the major reasons Ebola is transmitted so easily. These symptoms are often described as flu-like or stomach flu symptoms and are easily overlooked. The Ebola symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but in most reported cases the average is 8 to 10 days. Ebola is provided transmitted when infected persons are actively showing symptoms. Currently there are only supportive treatments available to facilitate care for Ebola patients.Patients leave behind be given IV fluids to maintain fluid balance as Ebola is known to produce copious amounts of emesis and stool, medications to help maintain and set up blood pressure, antipyretics for fevers, ventilation assistance for help with breathing, and dialysis if the patient does into kidney failure. There are experimental drugs that have been used in the treatment of Ebola. Drugs such as Z-Mapp and Brincidofovir have been used in patients to help beat the Ebola virus. While some patients have been successfully treated with these drugs it is also important to remember that these drugs could have many side effects and a testing has not been undefiled so there are still many questions to the safety and efficacy of their use. Before being approved for use in regular populations these drugs must compl ete clinical trials and be proven safe and effective.Patients who have survived Ebola have antibodies to the virus for about ten years. During this time they can be a vital source of help for others battling the virus. A donation of life providence plasma from a survivor to an infected person will help the person to begin developing antibodies to begin fighting the virus. To receive plasma the patients must have a matching blood type. Thousands of innocent people have died as the result of the deadly virus. Ebola has been around for over four decades and has really come into the main stream media focus. Ebola has not affected the States in the ways that it has ravaged through many of the countries in Africa. To protect our families from this devastating and deadly virus we must practice impeccable hand hygiene and use good sense when travelling especially internationally. fiddle CitedAkinfeyeva LA, Aksyonova OI, Vasilyevich IV, et al. A case of Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Infektsion nye Bolezni (Moscow). 20053(1)8588 Emond RT, Evans B, Bowen ET, et al. A case of Ebola virus infection. BritishMedical daybook. 19772(6086)541-544. Fields, Bernard, ed. Filoviridae Marburg and Ebola Viruses. Fields Virology, Third Edition. Lippincott-Raven juvenile York. 1996. 1161-1176. Georges AJ, Leroy EM, Renaud AA, et al. Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Gabon, 1994-1997 epidemiologic and health control issues. Journal of infectious Diseases. 1999179S65-75. Khan AS, Tshioko FK, Heymann DL, et al. The Reemergence of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995. Journal of Infectious Diseases. 1999179S76-S86. Le Guenno, Bernard, P. Formenty, and C. Boesch. Ebola Virus Outbreaks in the Ivory Coast and Liberia, 1994-1995. Ibid. Okware SI, Omaswa FG, Zaramba S, et al. An outbreak of Ebola in Uganda. Tropical Medicine and International Health. 20027(12)1068-1075.