Introduction:
The Ebola virus disease (EVD), popularly known as Ebola, one of the fatal viral diseases, was first identified in 1976 following the outbursts of deadly hemorrhagic fever in 2 consecutive epidemics in separate parts of Central Africa. Near the site of the first outbreak in the Republic of the Congo is the Ebola River, which gave the name for the disease. The second wave occurred about 850 kilometers (500 miles) away in South Sudan.
What Is Ebola?
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It is an uncommon, highly contagious, frequently fatal sickness transferred through contact with infected body fluids (either from a sick individual or bodily fluid-contaminated things, including doorknob)
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Fever, discomfort, diarrhea, and bleeding are symptoms of Ebola.
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It results from an infection with a family of viruses belonging to the genus Ebolavirus:
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Ebola virus.
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Sudan virus.
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Ta Forest virus.
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Bundibugyo virus.
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Reston virus.
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Bombali virus.
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Only four of these (Ebola, Sudan, The Forest, and Bundibugyo viruses) have been linked to human disease. Pigs and nonhuman primates can get sick from the Reston virus, but humans have not been affected. The Bombali virus was initially discovered in bats in 2018, and scientists are still unsure if it may sicken humans or animals.
How Is Ebola Transmitted?
Scientists believe contact with an infected animal, like a fruit bat, results in the initial Ebola virus transmission to humans. It is referred to as a spillover incident. The infection then spreads from person to person, possibly impacting a vast population.
Direct contact (such as through abrasions or the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, or mouth) with any of the following can spread the virus:
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Blood or bodily fluids (including urine, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, and semen) of an individual who has the Ebola virus disease or has passed away from it.
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Objects contaminated with bodily fluids from a person who has EVD or has died, including clothing, beds, injections, and hospital instruments.
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Fruit bats or non-human primates with diseases (such as apes and monkeys).
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Sperm from a man who overcame EVD (through anal, oral, or vaginal sex). Even if an EVD patient no longer exhibits severe disease symptoms, the virus might persist in some body fluids (including semen) of the patient.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Ebola?
Typically, symptoms show up two to six days after exposure, but they can sometimes take up to 21 days to manifest.
The development of symptoms is rapid and swift. They consist of the following:
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Chills and fever.
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Sluggish appetite.
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Muscle and bone pain.
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Diarrhea.
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Abdominal discomfort.
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Vomiting.
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Rash.
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Bleeding (in diarrhea, from nose or mouth, or even regions of mild injury).
How Is Ebola Diagnosed?
Healthcare professionals use lab tests to diagnose Ebola. However, the Ebola virus may not become detectable by lab tests for up to three days. As a result, the patient's symptoms and other findings are frequently used to make the first diagnosis.
How Is Ebola Treated?
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The FDA approved the first Ebola therapy in October 2020. Three antibodies are combined in the novel drug, Inmazeb (Atoltivimab, Maftivimab, and Odesivimab-ebgn).
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Inmazeb users have a better probability of surviving.
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Healthcare professionals treat the symptoms of the Ebola virus to increase survival rates.
Treatment includes the following:
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Electrolytes and fluids (body salts).
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Medication to treat diarrhea, vomiting, and fever.
How to Prevent the Spread of Disease?
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a highly uncommon ailment that can make people sick. It is thought to happen spontaneously in some sub-Saharan African animal populations. The Ebola virus is spread slowly among some animal populations in the most EVD-prone regions. Occasionally, people who have had contact with infected animals become ill with Ebola, which can cause disease outbreaks in others.
There are several strategies to safeguard oneself and stop the spread of EVD when residing in or visiting a place where the Ebola virus may be prevalent. Some of them are as follows:
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Avoid contacting ill people's blood and bodily fluids, including their urine, feces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, semen, and vaginal secretions.
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Avoid contacting till testing demonstrates that the virus is absent from a man's semen who has recovered from EVD.
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Avoid touching anything (such as clothes, beds, syringes, and medical equipment) that may have come into contact with someone’s infected blood or other bodily fluids.
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Avoid touching a person's body who has died from EVD or is suspected of having the disease during funeral or burial rituals.
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Avoid coming into contact with blood, fluids, or raw meat prepared from bats, woodland antelopes, nonhuman primates (such as monkeys and chimps), or other unknown species (bushmeat).
The same precautions should be taken when residing in or visiting a region with an Ebola outbreak. People should keep an eye on their health for 21 days after leaving an area where an Ebola outbreak occurs and get help right once they exhibit signs of EVD.
What Are the Vaccines Available for Ebola?
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There are two licensed Ebola vaccinations, Ervebo, and a two-dose regimen, Zabdeno and Mvabea.
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The European Medicines Agency granted Ervebo a license in November 2019 and prequalified it with the WHO (World Health Organisation). The United States Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine in December 2019. Since then, the vaccine has also been approved by Burundi, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.
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The vaccine is risk-free and effective at preventing the Zaire ebolavirus species. As a result, the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization has suggested it as a component of a more comprehensive toolkit for combating the Ebola outbreak.
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The European Medicines Agency advised in May 2020 that a second new vaccine named Zabdeno and Mvabea for people aged one year and older be given in two doses.
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The vaccination is given in two doses: Zabdeno is given first, and Maybe is provided as a second dose about eight weeks later. Therefore, this preventative two-dose regimen is inappropriate for an outbreak response where prompt protection is required.
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Suppose more than four months have passed after the second dose; a Zabdeno booster vaccine is taken into consideration for people who completed the two-dose Zabdeno and Mvabea vaccination regimen and are at immediate risk of exposure to the Ebola virus disease (such as healthcare workers and people who reside in or travel to regions where the disease outbreak is still active).
Who Are Eligible to Receive Vaccinations?
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Adults over the age of 18 are eligible to get the Ervebo vaccine, but not pregnant or nursing women.
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The Zabdeno and Mvabea vaccine regimen is recommended for the vaccination of people over the age of one year.
What Are the Side Effects of the Vaccine?
Since 2015, studies on vaccines have mostly only found mild negative impacts. However, vaccination's most frequent side effects include headache, weariness, muscle aches, and low fever.
What Are the Other Ways to Control Outbreaks Other Than Vaccination?
One of the many elements of the plan to contain an Ebola outbreak is the introduction of a vaccine. Other crucial elements include the following:
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Early discovery of new Ebola cases by careful contact monitoring.
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Active lab services to verify Ebola infections.
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Providing safe and supportive treatment while separating (isolating) patients to stop further spread at home or in the community.
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Bury the corpse dignifiedly to prevent the Ebola virus from spreading through touch with the dead.
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Actively involving communities in the fight against Ebola.
Conclusion:
Ebola is a deadly disease with a rare occurrence caused by the virus. By avoiding contact with those who have it and avoiding locations where there are active outbreaks, one can prevent contracting Ebola. If anyone suspects Ebola exposure or is experiencing symptoms, get help immediately.
