Facts:
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a
disease caused by one of five
different Ebola viruses. Four of the
strains can cause severe illness in
humans and animals. The fifth,
Reston virus, has caused illness in
some animals, but not in humans.


The first human outbreaks
occurred in 1976, one in northern
Zaire (now Democratic Republic of
the Congo) in Central Africa: and
the other, in southern Sudan (now
South Sudan) . The virus is named
after the Ebola River, where the
virus was first recognized in 1976,
according to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention.
Humans can be infected by other
humans if they come in contact
with body fluids from an infected
person or contaminated objects
from infected persons. Humans
can also be exposed to the virus,
for example, by butchering
infected animals.
While the exact reservoir of Ebola
viruses is still unknown,
researchers believe the most likely
natural hosts are fruit bats .
Symptoms of Ebola typically
include
: weakness, fever, aches, diarrhea,
vomiting and stomach pain.
Additional experiences include
rash, red eyes, chest pain, throat
soreness, difficulty breathing or
swallowing and bleeding (including
internal).


Typically, symptoms appear 8-10
days after exposure to the virus,
but the incubation period can
span two to 21 days.
Unprotected health care workers
are susceptible to infection
because of their close contact
with patients during treatment.
Deadly human Ebola outbreaks
have been confirmed in the
following countries: Democratic
Republic of the Congo (DRC),
Gabon, South Sudan, Ivory Coast,
Uganda, Republic of the Congo
(ROC), Guinea and Liberia .



According to the World Health
Organization, "there is no specific
treatment or vaccine," and the
fatality rate can be up to 90%.
Patients are given supportive care,
which includes providing fluids
and electrolytes and food.



There are five subspecies of the
Ebola virus: Zaire ebolavirus
(EBOV), Bundibugyo ebolavirus
(BDBV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV),
Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV) and
Reston ebolavirus (RESTV)


SOURCE: edition.cnn.com/2014/07/04/health/ebola-outbreak-west-africa/index.html

Ebola Virus is a violent killer which has no cure yet. Right now, it is killing people in some countries of west africa.

According to CNN( edition.cnn.com/2014/07/04/health/ebola-outbreak-west-africa/index.html?hpt=hp_t3), health ministers from our neighbouring countries have met with WHO officials to deliberate on ways to curb the spread of this deadly virus. Nigerian health minister or a representative was not reported as one of the participants of that meeting.

Does it mean our country feels so secure that we don't need to participate in such meetings?

Should the country not embark on a massive campaign to sensitize the masses on the facts and fictions of this killer disease?

( UP NEXT- My findings about the killer virus)