Ebola virus - what you need to know

All about Ebola – WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW NOW!

Should you fear Ebola?

The Ebola virus has recently been spreading throughout West Africa and now there are reported cases in the USA. A virus long forgotten in the western world, we are now being faced with the horrific reality that the virus is still very much alive . . . and it’s already killed thousands in this outbreak. The virus recently killed two American’s who were in West Africa, which has prompted the world’s attention.

What is Ebola?

You probably don’t really want to know, but I’ll tell you anyway. Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebolavirus) was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, next to the Ebola River, hence the name. There are five strands of the Ebolavirus, according to the CDC, four of which are known to have infected humans, the fifth has infected primates. When one is infected with the Ebolavirus the symptoms are usually abrupt. The symptoms are fever, muscle pain, intense weakness, sore throat and headache followed by “vomiting, diarrhea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding. Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts and elevated liver enzymes” according to the WHO (World Health Organization).

How is it spread?

Although the CDC states that carriers of the disease are uncertain, the WHO believes that fruit bats are the carriers. Once a human is infected, it’s then transmitted from human to human through contact with blood and other bodily fluids. Objects that have been in contact with infected blood and bodily fluid can also be a source of infection. 
 Does art imitate life? In the movie Outbreak starring Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo and Morgan Freeman an Ebola-like virus coming to the U.S. through a carrier monkey, a little girl’s pet. The symptoms were strikingly similar to those reported by the CDC and the WHO.

Is it really that dangerous?

Hearing today’s news stories about the Ebola outbreak and reading the available information online, it’s undoubtedly a terrifying virus that could soon affect many more citizens of the USA. This is a virus we certainly do not want to continue to spread. It strikes it’s host quickly, with up to a 90% fatality rate according to the WHO. 
 Is the threat real? Outbreaks are only known to have occurred in remote villages in Africa, near rainforest areas and it is transmitted from human to human. This virus can be transported in a humans away from such remote areas of the world and continue to spread worldwide.

How bad can the outbreak be in America?

According to CNN’s report on the two American’s who have died in Africa, Dr. Kent Brantley, a 33-year old doctor from Indianapolis who contracted the virus and has since died and had his wife and children with him in the African city of Monrovia. CNN reports that his family left for the U.S. before he became symptomatic and have since been placed on a 21-day fever hold. We have also now learned that there is a case in Dallas and now possibly Washington, DC but the big question is, “how big could this get?” My concern is more for the people they were in contact with his family members while leaving Africa and returning to the U.S. These individuals are not are not on a 21-day fever hold because it would be near to impossible to identify all of the human contacts that occurred. At this point we are not even sure if this virus was brought back to the USA.

It is time too prepare?

The answer is yes. Make sure you are cautious and have at least a 21 day supply of food and water on hand. Bottom line is that Ebola is real and living and apparently thriving in West Africa right now. There is no cure, there is no real treatment and the fatality rate is a staggering 90%. Just because we live in the western world does not mean that we are immune to viruses like Ebola. What do you think the odds are of more Americans contacting this illness? Leave you comments and opinions below.

Make sure you have at least a 21 day supply of food and water because that is the suggested quarantine time and if you are not prepared then you may have to face starvation before the virus kills you.

Resources:

http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/29/health/ebola-outbreak-american-dies/

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