The current outbreak of Ebola virus disease has been all over the
news lately, and of course, many rumors and much
misinformation has been spread. Here are ten questions regarding
the outbreak that will set the record straight about what is going
on in West Africa:

What is Ebola virus disease?

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is an acute viral illness that used to be
known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. It is caused by three of the
five species within the Ebolavirus genus. Two species are capable
of infecting humans, but do not seem to cause illness - so you
can catch it, but you won't notice it. The other three can cause
variable degrees of illness. Unfortunately, the Zaire Ebola virus is
the most deadly strain, and has been identified as the cause of
the current outbreak. In previous outbreaks, this strain has had a
90% death rate.

Where did EVD originate?

It is not entirely clear where the virus originated , though it is
thought that bats might harbor the virus in their intestinal tract.
It is likely that the virus made the transmission to primates
through ingestion. The first humans to be infected and spread the
disease likely went hunting and ate an infected animal. Bats, pigs,
and dogs are all believed to be reservoirs for the virus. The first
human outbreaks were in Sudan. Out of the 284 people infected
in the first outbreaks, 151 died from the disease; 53 percent.

What are the symptoms?

Once a person has contracted the Ebola virus, it can take up to 21
days to become symptomatic. The disease causes flu-like
symptoms including aches, abdominal pain, fever, vomiting and
diarrhea. This leads to dehydration, failure of the liver and
kidneys, and hemorrhaging. Some patients may even go into
“cytokine storm” in which the immune response is unregulated
and an excessive amount of cytokine and immune cells damage
tissues and organs, with potentially fatal results. However, there
are many diseases that can cause these symptoms, so blood
tests need to be done to rule out things like malaria, hepatitis,
cholera, meningitis, and others.

How is it treated?

Well, it isn’t really. Not directly, anyway. I know this doesn’t
sound very encouraging, but the best course of action is to give
the patient support . Intravenous fluids will prevent dehydration,
keeping the patient cool can mitigate the effects of the fever,
pain relievers can add some degree of comfort, and health
officials will also monitor oxygen levels as well as blood
pressure. There is not currently a vaccine to prevent EVD.

What is the prognosis?

This question unfortunately does not have a clear answer . Some
outlets have been claiming the death rate is anywhere from
50-90%, but that is a huge variation and isn’t necessarily an
accurate figure to be used on a case-by-case basis. Prognosis is
dependent on many factors, including the viral strain causing the
infection, available medical care, and speed of diagnosis. Those
that have the illness identified and receive treatment early stand
a better chance of surviving the infection. Unfortunately, since
the symptoms are rather generic and resemble so many other
diseases, patients can be misdiagnosed, which could delay
treatment.

How does it spread?

The virus can spread through contact of bodily fluids, which is a
bit problematic given the amount of sweat, vomit, and diarrhea
involved with caring for a patient. The virus can also be spread
through semen up to seven weeks after the onset of disease,
even once symptoms have abated. Ebola is also somewhat
unique in that it is still virulent even after its host has died. This
means that those who prepare the body for funereal customs
must take extreme precautions.

What’s the deal with the current outbreak?

The outbreak was declared in March in Guinea. Since then, the
disease has spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. Two
Americans who had been infected while in Africa will be brought
to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta in order to receive better
treatment than what is available in West Africa, and will be
subjected to a barrage of treatments in order to better
understand the disease. As of the time of this writing (August 1)
there have been 1,323 confirmed cases with 729 deaths (55%
fatality rate) spread across four countries in West Africa. This is
the largest EVD outbreak ever recorded. Sixty of the deaths have
been of health care workers who were seeking to control the
disease.

Should I be worried?

Though many in the developed world are understandably fearful
of the disease, many health officials claim that the only reason
this particular outbreak has grown as large as it has is because of
where it hit. The areas that have been hit the hardest lack
sufficient health care systems and are unable to provide
necessary treatment for the patients or personal protective
equipment for health care workers. Unsanitary conditions would
allow the outbreak to grow incredibly rapidly.
For those living in developed countries, such as the US, it is not
likely that the virus will spread. CDC Director Thomas Frieden has
said that there is not the potential for Ebola to spread
throughout the US like it has in West Africa. The virus can only
be transmitted when someone is sick, and all major ports of
entry have received quarantine stations to find travelers who
may be ill. However, the CDC has issued a Level 3 travel warning
to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to prevent exposure. Even if
it did manage to get across the Atlantic, it requires very
unsanitary conditions to spread. It's very unlikely that ebola will
ever spread in a developed country.

What research is being done to combat this disease?

In order to address the outbreak, the CDC will be sending 50
experts to some of the hardest-hit areas within the next 30
days. The World Health Organization has stated that the virus is
spreading faster than they can contain it . In addition to the highly
contagious nature of the virus itself, health officials are also
working against cultural beliefs that have kept certain cases
hidden, as some believe that the high fatality rate means that
going into quarantine is a certain death. There are also cultural
faith healing and burial practices that prevent some from seeking
treatment and contribute to the spread of disease.
In April, it was announced that an antiviral molecule was
effective against all strains of ebola in rodent models, though it
is not ready for clinical testing. One of the Americans being flown
to Atlanta, 59-year-old Nancy Writebol, has received an
experimental treatment. Unfortunately, there was only enough
for one. The other American, 33-year-old Dr. Kent Brantly,
insisted that Writebol receive the treatment. However, Brantly
received a unit of blood from a 14-year-old boy who Brantly had
treated for EVD earlier this summer, potentially in the hopes that
it contains antibodies to help eliminate the virus.

How can I protect myself?

The average person can basically eliminate their chances of
contracting the virus by avoiding locations that have current EVD
outbreaks. If you have traveled to that area within the last
couple of weeks or have been exposed to someone who has, be
sure to wash hands with warm soap and water, and avoid
touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. You should also avoid
contact with any of their bodily fluids (which is generally good
advice anyway). If you have been exposed and begin to feel
symptomatic, isolate yourself immediately and call for medical
assistance.


http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/ten-things-you-really-should-know-about-ebola