[center]The Facts[/center]

Ebola virus is a haemorrhagic virus belonging to the family of filoviridae. Filoviridae is a negative stranded RNA, enveloped, non-segmented viruses of varying morphology. The virus family filoviridae is a family that very little is known. The other virus in this family is the Marburg virus which incidentally was the first filovirus discovered in 1967 in Frankfurt,Germany after contact with infected monkeys from Africa.

Interestingly, during the first Ebola outbreak, experts thought it was a mutated strain of the Marburg virus until proven otherwise. To this day, there still exists a dearth of information on the virulence factors, pathogenesis or molecular biology of this family of virus. What is known however is, it generally induces immune suppression and systemic inflammatory response leading to shock and multi organ failure.

Ebola Timeline

There are various documented strains of Ebola so named due to their origins or natural reservoirs they came from. They include Ebola Zaire, Ebo-Cote’d Voire, Ebola Sudan and Ebola Reston. Ebo-Z is the most lethal strain due to the high mortality (83% on average) rates and cell assays conducted.

The first recorded cases of Ebola were first documented in the late 1970s in the DRC and Sudan. Whilst infection rates were gradually falling off after the arrival of experts, most were startled at the high mortality rates recorded amongst patients and medical staff alike which limited the scale of investigation.

In 1989, Ebola virus (Reston) surfaced in the US and again in 1996 when infected monkeys of an Asian origin were imported by a Philippine exporter. Whilst infections were recorded in humans, it also was discovered to have lesser pathogenicity than other Ebola strain as all infected survived. This strain was largely non-lethal in humans. Interestingly, Ebo-R has also been found in pigs in the Philippines.

In 1994-1996, a large scale Ebola pandemic was recorded in no fewer than 3 African countries (Ivory Coast, DRC and Gabon).
Noteworthy is as in all previous outbreaks was that all infections fanned out from within/near tropical forests or close to riverine forests. Their natural reservoirs in primates (chimpanzees, monkeys, et al)

Other outbreaks occurred within the new millennia in countries such as Uganda, Russia and DRC.
The most recent outbreak surfaced in Guinea in March 2014 where it has since spread out to 3 other African countries. (Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria) The identified strain is the Zaire strain, which is the most lethal.

Hosts

Verified hosts includes
Primates (Monkeys,Chimpanzees etc)
Fruit bats e.g Hypsignathus monstrosus
Pigs (Ebola Reston, Philippines)

Transmission

Known modes of transmission is mainly by contact with infected person's blood or body fluids
or by
Infected objects (cups,spoon, needles et al)
Infected animals
Symptoms

Ebola virus symptoms generally persist within a 14 to 21 days timeframe. Early symptoms include myalgia, fever and malaise. As the disease progresses, symptoms seen includes ‘severe bleeding and coagulation abnormalities, including gastrointestinal bleeding, rash, and a range of hematological irregularities, such as lymphopenia and neutrophilia.’
Terminal stage symptoms include ‘diffuse bleeding, and hypotensive shock.’

Other general symptoms are
• Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
• Severe headache
• Muscle pain
• Weakness
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Abdominal (stomach) pain
• Lack of appetite

The Myths

‘Salt would cure ebola’
Ebola is a virus and thus there is absolutely no correlation to the effects of salt (NaCl) on it. Whilst NaCl is an electrolyte in the body that is regulated by Homeostasis, It is not known to have any possible effect on the virus. There is however a higher chance of Hypernatremia which is likely to induce coma and alteration in mental status if ingested.

Consuming Bushmeat
Whilst there is no proof showing cooked bushmeat as a reservoir for Ebola. There is a possibility of contracting the virus if handling raw, or being in contact with someone that handled an infected animal. Stopping to patronise bushmeat vendors is likely to reduce risk of infection and lessen the risk of an index contact with infected animals especially by hunters. According to epidemiologist and disease ecologists, it is widely believed that human contact with infected wild animals brought Ebola out of the rainforest to cities.

Once down with Ebola, you’re dead
Whilst it has no concrete treatment yet, it is not all doom and gloom. If patients can mount an appropriate immune response quickly, they are more likely to survive. Besides current fatality rates are hovering at about 60%* for this outbreak which is indicative of human antibodies ability to sufficiently fight off the virus.


Bitter Kola can cure ebola
Again there is no empirical evidence/research/finding supporting the efficacy of bitter kola against the virus.
Ebola is air transmissible
No it isn’t. It requires direct contact for the disease to be passed on from one person to another.

Recommendations

Avoid bush meat and contact with primates and or wild animals.

Whilst evidence may point to bats as another natural reservoir in previous cases, there has been evidence to support fruit bats as responsible for this current outbreak according to research from a published work by Fabian Leendertz in August 2014. Nevertheless, it is vital to avoid contacts with wild animals, bush meat and extra caution, taking extra care to avoid animal droppings.

• Practice careful hygiene. Avoid contact with blood and body fluids.
• 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 animals and raw meat.
• Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on facilities.
• After you return, monitor your health for 21 days and seek medical care immediately if you develop symptoms of Ebola.