Ebola Virus

Ebola Virus

What Is Ebola?

Ans. Ebola is a disease of humans and other primates caused by an ebola virus. It's symptoms start showing up two days to three weeks after contracting the virus, with a fever, sore throat, muscle pain and headaches. Typically, vomiting,diarrhea and rash follow, along with decreased function of the liver and kidneys. Around this time, affected people may begin to bleed both within the body and externally.

Causes:

EVD is caused by four of five viruses classified in the genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae, orderMononegavirales. The four disease-causing viruses are Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Sudan virus (SUDV),Taï Forest virus (TAFV), and one called simply, Ebola virus (EBOV, formerly Zaire Ebola virus). Ebola virus is the sole member of the Zaire ebolavirus species, and the most dangerous of the known Ebola disease-causing viruses, as well as being responsible for the largest number of outbreaks. The fifth virus, Reston virus (RESTV), is not thought to be disease-causing in humans. The five Ebola viruses are closely related to the Marburg viruses.

Transmission:

Human-to-human transmission can occur via direct contact with blood or bodily fluids from an infected person (including embalming of an infected dead person) or by contact with objects contaminated by the virus, particularly needles and syringes. The potential for widespread EVD infections is considered low as the disease is only spread by direct contact with the secretions from someone who is showing signs of infection. The symptoms limit a person's ability to spread the disease as they are often too sick to travel.Because dead bodies are still infectious, local traditional burial rituals may spread the disease. Nearly two thirds of cases of Ebola in Guinea during the 2014 outbreak are believed to be due to burial practices.Semen may be infectious in survivors for up to 3 months. It is not entirely clear how an Ebola outbreak is initially started. The initial infection is believed to occur after ebola virus is transmitted to a human by contact with an infected animal's body fluids.

One of the primary reasons for spread is that the health systems in the part of Africa where the disease occurs function poorly. Medical workers who do not wear appropriate protective clothing may contract the disease. Hospital-acquired transmission has occurred in African countries due to the reuse of needles and lack of universal precautions. Some health care centers caring for people with the disease do not have running water.

Airborne transmission has not been documented during EVD outbreaks. They are, however, infectious as breathable 0.8– to 1.2-μm laboratory-generated droplets.The virus has been shown to travel, without contact, from pigs to primates, although the same study failed to demonstrate similar transmission between non-human primates.

Bats drop partially eaten fruits and pulp, then land mammals such as gorillas and duikers feed on these fallen fruits. This chain of events forms a possible indirect means of transmission from the natural host to animal populations, which has led to research towards viral shedding in the saliva of bats. Fruit production, animal behavior, and other factors vary at different times and places that may trigger outbreaks among animal populations.

Damages:

Endothelial cells, macrophages, monocytes, and liver cells are the main targets of infection. After infection, a secreted glycoprotein (sGP) known as the Ebola virus glycoprotein (GP) is synthesized. Ebola replication overwhelms protein synthesis of infected cells and host immune defenses. The GP forms atrimeric complex, which binds the virus to the endothelial cells lining the interior surface of blood vessels. The sGP forms a dimeric protein that interferes with the signaling of neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, which allows the virus to evade the immune system by inhibiting early steps of neutrophil activation. These white blood cells also serve as carriers to transport the virus throughout the entire body to places such as the lymph nodes, liver, lungs, and spleen.

The presence of viral particles and cell damage resulting from budding causes the release of chemical signals (to be specific, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, etc.), which are the signaling molecules for fever and inflammation. The cytopathic effect, from infection in the endothelial cells, results in a loss of vascular integrity. This loss in vascular integrity is furthered with synthesis of GP, which reduces specific integrinsresponsible for cell adhesion to the inter-cellular structure, and damage to the liver, which leads to improper clotting.

Diagnosis:

The Virus can be diagnosed by getting a blood check up and getting it searched for antibodies or detecting the virus RNA or Protein through Blood samples.

Preventions:

The risk of transmission is increased among those caring for people infected. Recommended measures when caring for those who are infected include isolating them, sterilizing equipment and surfaces, and wearing protective clothing including masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles. If a person with Ebola dies, direct contact with the body of the deceased patient should be avoided.

In order to reduce the spread, the World Health Organization recommends raising community awareness of the risk factors for Ebola infection and the protective measures individuals can take. These include avoiding contact with infected people and regular hand washing using soap and water. Traditionalburial rituals, especially those requiring washing or embalming of bodies, should be discouraged or modified.Airline crews are instructed to isolate anyone who has symptoms resembling Ebola virus.

The Ebola virus can be eliminated with heat (heating for 30 to 60 minutes at 60 °C or boiling for 5 minutes). On surfaces, some lipid solvents such as some alcohol-based products, detergents, sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or calcium hypochlorite (bleaching powder), and other suitable disinfectants at appropriate concentrations can be used as disinfectants.

In laboratories where diagnostic testing is carried out, biosafety level 4-equivalent containment is World Health Organization Risk Group 4 pathogens. Laboratory researchers must be properly trained in BSL-4 practices and wear proper personal protective equipment.

required, since Ebola viruses are 

Treatment:

No ebolavirus-specific treatment is currently approved.-Wikipedia