The Ebola virus
Christina Mock
Ms. Betres
ENGL-101
November 13, 2014
Fear of the Ebola Virus
The Ebola virus was discovered in the 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Ebola virus—previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever—has been typically a disease of Central Africa, which it was until recently. There are five different confirmed strains of the virus. There is the Zaire Ebola, the Sudan, the Tai Forest, Bundibugyo virus, each of which can affect humans. The fifth strain, the Reston virus, has only caused disease in non-human primates. All of the variations of the disease get their name from the location near where they were discovered. Ebola is a viral disease that is spread through body fluids: blood, feces, urine, semen, breast milk, sweat, saliva (much like Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)). Also the Ebola virus can be spread with infected needles, improperly sanitized medical equipment, or contact with open sores and lesions.
Scientists are still trying to figure out which animal or animals are natural hosts who carry the virus. Many scientists suspect the fruit bat to be a natural host. Also, macaque monkeys have been diagnosed with the virus but typically with the Reston strain, which only affects non-primates. Humans encounter the disease via close contact with an infected animal’s body fluids or by eating meat contaminated with the virus. Even after death of the afflicted body, mourners are still at risk by touching the deceased. The viral symptoms are much like the flu virus: fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unexplained hemorrhage. Left untreated, the virus begins to “liquefy” the organs, mainly the blood vessels, liver, kidney, and the victim bleeds from every orifice (eyes, mouth, ears, and rectum). Death is imminent. Symptoms appear two to twenty-one days after exposure to Ebola. The average is within eight to ten days. The virus is confirmed through a
Ms. Betres
ENGL-101
November 13, 2014
Fear of the Ebola Virus
The Ebola virus was discovered in the 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Ebola virus—previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever—has been typically a disease of Central Africa, which it was until recently. There are five different confirmed strains of the virus. There is the Zaire Ebola, the Sudan, the Tai Forest, Bundibugyo virus, each of which can affect humans. The fifth strain, the Reston virus, has only caused disease in non-human primates. All of the variations of the disease get their name from the location near where they were discovered. Ebola is a viral disease that is spread through body fluids: blood, feces, urine, semen, breast milk, sweat, saliva (much like Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)). Also the Ebola virus can be spread with infected needles, improperly sanitized medical equipment, or contact with open sores and lesions.
Scientists are still trying to figure out which animal or animals are natural hosts who carry the virus. Many scientists suspect the fruit bat to be a natural host. Also, macaque monkeys have been diagnosed with the virus but typically with the Reston strain, which only affects non-primates. Humans encounter the disease via close contact with an infected animal’s body fluids or by eating meat contaminated with the virus. Even after death of the afflicted body, mourners are still at risk by touching the deceased. The viral symptoms are much like the flu virus: fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unexplained hemorrhage. Left untreated, the virus begins to “liquefy” the organs, mainly the blood vessels, liver, kidney, and the victim bleeds from every orifice (eyes, mouth, ears, and rectum). Death is imminent. Symptoms appear two to twenty-one days after exposure to Ebola. The average is within eight to ten days. The virus is confirmed through a
Cited: Baker, Aryn, and Alexandra Sifferlin. "Racing Ebola. (Cover Story)." Time 184.14 (2014): 38. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. Cooper, Mary H. "Combating Infectious Diseases." CQ Researcher 9 June 1995: 489-512. Web. 6 Nov. 2014. “Deadly Ebola Moves into West Africa (Special Report).” Issues & Controversies. InfoBase Learning, April 2014. Web. 2 November 2014. “Ebola (The Ebola Virus).” Center for Disease Control, 12 November 2014, Web, 4 November 2014. “Ebola Outbreak in Africa (Special Report).” Issues & Controversies. InfoBase Learning, Nov. 2000. Web 31 October 2014.