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The WHO reports that in Africa, documented cases of people who have fallen ill with the Ebola virus were found to have contact with dead or infected fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, antelopes and porcupines. According to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates, there have been more than 1,800 cases and more than 1,300 deaths in Africa due to Ebola virus.

According to University of Pittsburgh Medical Center associate Amesh Adalja, MD, of the Center for Biosecurity, all outbreaks have occurred in isolated communities in Africa, where the people are poor and have no resources to fly out of the country or to travel far. One Ebola virus strain that caused an outbreak in monkeys in a laboratory outside Washington, DC did not cause illness or death to persons who were exposed to the monkeys. They were, however, observed to develop antibodies (immune system defense) to the virus.
Kamiliny Kalahne, an epidemiologist from Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), says there have been no reports of any cases of Ebola spreading to a developed country. The reason may be that the virus is transmitted when people are very sick with high fever and other symptoms, but when they are most unlikely to travel. She also says that an outbreak usually spreads in hospitals that have poor control for infections and limited resources (ex. no running water).
What Now?
Some patients also develop rashes, red eyes, chest pains, hiccups, difficulty breathing and difficulty swallowing.
Recent reports of a Canadian man who was being treated in an intensive care unit in a hospital with symptoms of hemorrhagic fever resembling Ebola confirmed that he tested negative for the virus. The man, who was in critical condition, was isolated in a facility in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan province, after he came home from West Africa. He tested negative to Ebola virus, Marburg virus, Rift Valley fever, and Lassa fever. According to WHO, he may have been suffering from severe malaria.
At present there are no vaccines or medicines to prevent or treat Ebola virus infections. Treatment is mostly in the form of supportive therapy. However, clinical trials are being done in search for possible treatment for the deadly disease. One antibody treatment, which has been tried in monkeys, shows that it may be effective even after more than 3 days of infection. Other vaccines using recombinant technology are also underway.
Scientists are also conducting surveillance activities to map out the geographic distribution of known bat hosts, as well as rodents and primates who may be carrying the viruses.
While these are on-going, experts believe that the best response we can have to ebolavirus infection is to be able to diagnose the disease during an outbreak. Detection of antigens and antibodies in the blood is important in confirming the diagnosis.
In Africa, eating of bat meat has been banned. CDC urges travelers and healthcare workers to avoid contact with blood and other body fluids from people who may be infected. One can do simple steps to control infection, such as using gloves, gowns, and eye protection, to bring an end to an Ebola outbreak. People who have symptoms of hemorrhagic fever must seek immediate medical care.
See Also: Malaria: Radical Change Of Strategy Offers Hope For Eradication Of Disease
Several organizations, including the WHO, MSF, UNHCR, Save the Children and other health partners, have provided medical supplies, medical equipment, isolation units, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care facilities in Africa. Training for health-care workers in affected areas is being conducted for management of cases. Community education and mobilization of various organizations, including religious leaders and social media are being done to help prevent and control outbreaks of Ebola virus.
In the US, airline workers are trained to spot passengers who may have symptoms of illnesses, while quarantine officers in 20 major U.S. airports are ready to respond to in-flight illnesses.
- ABC News. Ebola, Crossing Borders in Africa, Could Land in US. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2014/04/01/ebola-crossing-borders-in-africa-could-land-in-u-s/
- CNN. Canada probes possible Ebola case. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/24/health/canada-possible-ebola-case/index.html
- WebMD. FAQ: The Deadly Ebola Virus. http://www.webmd.com/news/20140404/faq-ebola-virus
- WHO. Ebola virus disease, West Africa – update. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2014_04_05_ebola/en/
- EcoHealth Alliance. Re-emergence of Ebola focuses need for global surveillance strategies. ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/04/140417133505.htm
- CNN. Ebola toll rises in 'unprecedented' outbreak. http://edition.cnn.com/2014/03/31/health/africa-ebola/index.html
- NEJM. Ebola — A Growing Threat? http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1405314
- Photo courtesy of European Commission DG ECHO by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/69583224@N05/13778452604
- Photo courtesy of UNICEF Guinea by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/unicefguinea/13541034365
- abcnews.go.com
- edition.cnn.com
- www.webmd.com
- www.sciencedaily.com
- www.nejm.org
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