History: The Virus & the Infected People
Ebola was first identified in Sudan and Zaire in the year 1976. Named after the famous Ebola River in Zaire, the first outbreak was horrific with an infection of over 284 people in Sudan (EBOLA-Sudan). The mortality rate of the overall infected population was 53%. The second Ebola emergence was noted in Yambuku and Zaire, Ebola-Zaire (E-BOZ) which saw a nightmarish mortality rate of 88% out of the 318 infected people. The third strain is Ebola Reston (EBOR) which was first detected in 1989, when infected monkeys from Mindanao, Philippines were imported to Reston, Virginia. The rate of fatalities were comparatively lower with none of the infected persons developing Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). The last strain, Ebola Cote d’Ivoire (EBO-CI) was discovered in a female ethologist in 1994.
Causes & Transmission
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is caused by four viruses of the Ebolavirus genus. It is transmitted when an infected human or animal comes in close contact with a healthy human. The later stage of spreading involves direct contact, secretions, body fluids, and environmental etc.
Signs & Symptoms
The initial phase is characterized by the sudden onset of weakness, headache and fever followed by severe vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, muscle pain, shortness of breath and sore throat. Ebola Virus Disease impairs the kidney and liver function and may cause internal & external bleeding in certain cases. Laboratory reports include the likes of low white blood cell and platelet count and elevated liver enzymes.
The average time period between contraction and the start of symptoms varies between 8 to 10 days. The reactions are rapid after the incubation period and may lead to death of an infected individual. In a non-recovering patient, the death is primarily due to multiple organ dysfunction syndrome wherein the following can be seen abundantly:
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Bleeding from puncture sites
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Bleeding from mucous membranes
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Internal & subcutaneous bleeding identified via reddened eyes & bloody vomit
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Rashes
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Impaired blood clotting
Facts & Figures
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A fatality rate of up to 90% has been reported in an EVD outbreak in the history.
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It mostly occurs in remote villages near tropical rainforests in Central and West Africa.
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Some of the countries known for the dreadful EVD outbreaks are as follows – Uganda, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Cote d’Ivoire.
Treatment & WHO
As of now, no specific treatment that cures EVD is available in the market. Several vaccines and formulations are being tested but a licensed vaccine is still not available for EVD.
World Health Organization (WHO) provides exclusive support and expertise for developing new medical therapies. They also provide available documentation from their archives to support the investigation and control of EVD.
India
According to recent reports, a 25 year old person who came back from Guinea was tested for the presence of Ebola, on voluntary request. He was monitored in a government hospital and was discharged with no symptoms of being infected. Till now, there is no other factual report of EVD in India.
