Outbreak: the Ebola Virus in Sudan, Zaire, and Uganda
Whitley Acre Mrs. Hill
Honors English 9
26 January 2012
Outbreak: The Ebola Virus in Sudan, Zaire, and Uganda By killing ninety percent of its victims, Ebola is one of the most effective viruses known to man. This virus does not have any specific requirements for its host, it simply attaches itself to a species and does as much damage as possible. Ebola is extremely contagious; it is practically unstoppable, incurable, and unpreventable. The ease of transfer between species makes detection and isolation of infected hosts paramount. The killing efficiency of the Ebola virus has created worldwide fear and respect for its deadly potential as made evident by outbreaks in places such as Sudan, Zaire, and Uganda.
1976, this deadly virus strikes Sudan, Africa to create the world’s first ever recorded epidemic of the Ebola virus. This virus infected two hundred eighty four people, killing one hundred fifty four of them (CDC). The virus spread extremely quickly mainly from close contact inside the hospitals. Because doctors had no idea what they were dealing with or how to treat it, they were also infected. The epidemic begins with a factory storekeeper getting infected in the Nzara township of Sudan (History.com). He dies soon after getting infected, thus causing the virus to begin spreading throughout the area. Fear begins to fill the oblivious minds of the families inhabiting Sudan, Africa. According to Michael B. A. Oldstone, author of Viruses, Plagues, and History, a thirty-six year old lab technician known as Kinfumu checked into the general hospital in Kikwit,
Zaire thinking he was sick with an illness that had been going around his city (130).
Unfortunately, he later found out the virus he had was in fact Ebola. Soon after Kinfumu died, the entire hospital staff began to fall sick with the virus. One nurse that was shipped 70 miles out of Kikwit infected at least three other people before her death. Eventually the World Health
Honors English 9
26 January 2012
Outbreak: The Ebola Virus in Sudan, Zaire, and Uganda By killing ninety percent of its victims, Ebola is one of the most effective viruses known to man. This virus does not have any specific requirements for its host, it simply attaches itself to a species and does as much damage as possible. Ebola is extremely contagious; it is practically unstoppable, incurable, and unpreventable. The ease of transfer between species makes detection and isolation of infected hosts paramount. The killing efficiency of the Ebola virus has created worldwide fear and respect for its deadly potential as made evident by outbreaks in places such as Sudan, Zaire, and Uganda.
1976, this deadly virus strikes Sudan, Africa to create the world’s first ever recorded epidemic of the Ebola virus. This virus infected two hundred eighty four people, killing one hundred fifty four of them (CDC). The virus spread extremely quickly mainly from close contact inside the hospitals. Because doctors had no idea what they were dealing with or how to treat it, they were also infected. The epidemic begins with a factory storekeeper getting infected in the Nzara township of Sudan (History.com). He dies soon after getting infected, thus causing the virus to begin spreading throughout the area. Fear begins to fill the oblivious minds of the families inhabiting Sudan, Africa. According to Michael B. A. Oldstone, author of Viruses, Plagues, and History, a thirty-six year old lab technician known as Kinfumu checked into the general hospital in Kikwit,
Zaire thinking he was sick with an illness that had been going around his city (130).
Unfortunately, he later found out the virus he had was in fact Ebola. Soon after Kinfumu died, the entire hospital staff began to fall sick with the virus. One nurse that was shipped 70 miles out of Kikwit infected at least three other people before her death. Eventually the World Health