In the wake of discovering the Liberian man who was died from the Ebola virus, I feel its important to inform readers about this deadly virus. Here are 9 facts we must all know and about the deadly virus and protect ourselves;
The deadliest outbreak of Ebola in history is still ravaging countries in West Africa, particularly Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. And the troubling news continues with the recent report that the head doctor treating patients with Ebola in Sierra Leone, virologist Sheik Umar Khan, has himself contracted the virus, and is now being treated by doctors from the organization Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders).
The virus is notoriously deadly, causing a severe viral hemorrhagic fever, and has so farkilled 60 percent of people infected by it in this West Africa outbreak. Here’s what is known about Ebola virus disease -- formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever -- including how it's spread and why it's so deadly:
The first human outbreaks of Ebola on record occurred in Sudan and Zaire in 1976.
The virus is named after the Ebola River in Africa. There have been other outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ivory Coast, Uganda, South Sudan, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Guinea and Liberia, according to CNN.
The virus is named after the Ebola River in Africa. There have been other outbreaks reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ivory Coast, Uganda, South Sudan, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Guinea and Liberia, according to CNN.
There are five known strains of the virus.
They are named after their outbreak locations: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Côte d’Ivoire, Ebola-Reston, and Ebola-Bundibugyo, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The outbreak currently affecting West Africa is the Zaire strain of ebolavirus -- which is also the most deadly of the five. Ebola-Reston, by contrast, is asymptomatic in humans.
They are named after their outbreak locations: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Côte d’Ivoire, Ebola-Reston, and Ebola-Bundibugyo, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. The outbreak currently affecting West Africa is the Zaire strain of ebolavirus -- which is also the most deadly of the five. Ebola-Reston, by contrast, is asymptomatic in humans.
Ebola usually kills.
Infection with the Zaire strain of Ebola causes death 80 to 90 percent of the time, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Infection with the Zaire strain of Ebola causes death 80 to 90 percent of the time, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.
Ebola can spread from person to person.
It can also be contracted if a person comes into contact with a contaminated object or even by butchering an animal infected with the virus, CNN reported. A deceased person with Ebola can still transmit the virus. Fruit bats are suspected to be a natural host of the Ebola virus, according to the World Health Organization. These bats are a popular food source throughout West Africa and so WHO officials have warned residents of outbreak areas to stop hunting and cooking with the bats.
It can also be contracted if a person comes into contact with a contaminated object or even by butchering an animal infected with the virus, CNN reported. A deceased person with Ebola can still transmit the virus. Fruit bats are suspected to be a natural host of the Ebola virus, according to the World Health Organization. These bats are a popular food source throughout West Africa and so WHO officials have warned residents of outbreak areas to stop hunting and cooking with the bats.
Culled from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment