Ebola

Ebola has recently become prominent as it is being creating a threatening situation all over West Africa; which got its name from a river in Yambuku; Ebola River.

It is not leaving behind anybody, whether adult, or child or even doctors who are treating the effected ones. Ebola is actually the name of the virus causing Ebola virus disease. Single stranded RNA genome makes up the genetic structure.

They are filamentous in nature with coiled or branched appearance and are visualized as ‘Shepherd’s crook’ or the shape of a ‘U’. The disease may be contracted from animal carcasses like that of Gorilla, Chimpanzees, etc. while touching it, or while cleaning. By taking in of meat of the infected animals also spreads the disease. Fruits half-eaten by infected bats transmit the disease mainly to gorillas and monkeys.

Asymptomatic disease is seen among domestic animals like dogs. Health care workers are at the greatest risk of contracting the disease as they have to keep close contact with the diseased. Monkeys, pigs, fruit bats, infected person’s blood, body secretions like semen, etc. acts as mediators. The suspected animals should be killed and the body should be properly disposed. The disease may be diagnosed by mistake as cholera, malaria, etc. on the basis of symptoms, as they present similar indications. Testing should be done to detect the specific viral antibodies or viral RNA particles to confirm the infection.

The infective particle; the virion, attaches to the receptors on the cell surface, which slowly allows entry into the interior of the cell. Later the virus develops all parts of the viral structure and comes out as a sprout. The defending cells such as neutrophils of the human body gets altered and start to act as carriers of these virus particles to areas like lymph nodes, spleen, etc. Vascular damage occurs along with liver injury ultimately leading to impaired blood clotting.

The onset of the disease is with fever, painful throat, joint and muscle cramps, headache, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea. Reduced liver and kidney functioning, and bleeding with diminished craving for food and total exhaustion of the body may occur in some cases. Within two days to three weeks of the entry of virus, the symptoms start to appear. Compressed, red rashes become visible on the skin.

The disease slowly progresses to the bleeding stage, which is characterized by bleeding in the internal region as well as sub-cutaneuos area. Eyes are reddened and the throw up contains ample amount of blood in it, along with bloody stool. Bleeding leads to lesions of varying sizes. Blood clotting weakens. Nasal and vaginal bleeding and bleeding from gums also seem to occur. Excessive bleeding leads to death.

Since no vaccination or medications prove to be effective only preventive measures can be taken. Contact through mouth and conjuctivital spread are common among primates. Travelling with the disease makes the spread easier. Nosocomial and droplet spread are also reported. Infected person once acquired should be isolated. The utensils used for testing the patients should be made germ-free. The materials used by the hospital personnel such as gloves, masks, gown, etc, should be either disposed after use or sterilized properly after use. Practicing of washing hands properly can prevent the disease to an extent. Embalming of the infected body should be prevented.

Diagnosis by;

• Confirming the presence of the virus by isolation
• Viral RNA detection
• Isolation of antibodies specific to the virus from the patient
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• ELISA
• Identification of filamentous virus by electron microscopy.
  Visit our website for more Health Related Video