Ebola Is Manageable

Ebola Is Manageable

EBOLA IS MANAGEABLE 9 Ebola is Manageable Name DeVry University Ebola is Manageable A dog was put to death in Spain for fear that it may have contracted Ebola from its owner, who was infected by the disease. The action might have been an overreaction on the part of Spain's officials, but it showed the fears of the general public. The media has been overflowing with Ebola news ever since the outbreak of the epidemic in West Africa, but more so because the disease has infiltrated the United States with the first confirmed case being reported in Dallas. One might understand that the public has every right to be fearful, even paranoid of Ebola, but their feelings are based on limited information concerning Ebola.

With the right information concerning facts, transmission, and management of the disease, the public may change their attitude towards Ebola. Though the disease has spread at an alarming rate, it is possible to manage Ebola so as to prevent further loss of lives. Facts regarding Ebola In March 2014, an Ebola epidemic was reported in West Africa, and it has since spread to other parts of the world, including the United States of America, other parts of Africa, and Spain. Ebola is a rare disease caused by the Ebola virus. The Ebola virus was first reported in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It affects both humans and nonhuman primates such as monkeys and gorillas. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2014), 3,400 people have died from the disease, the most affected regions being Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria. What Causes Ebola? Ebola has only one cause that is the infection of the Ebola Virus. There are no any other probable causes of Ebola.

Causes of Ebola: The Ebola Virus The Ebola virus originated from a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the first acknowledgment of the disease was conducted. The Ebola virus is one of the two members of the RNA virus family known as Filoviridae. There are four subtypes of Ebola Virus that have been identified in which three of the four are responsible for the disease in humans (Sullivan et al., 2003). Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast, and the final subtype is Ebola-Reston that has caused disease in primates that are non-human and not humans. The actual origin, location, and natural habitat of the Ebola Virus still remain unknown; however, based on available evidence and similar viruses, it is believed that the Ebola virus lives in an animal host native to Africa.

The specific animal host remains unidentified, and there is uncertainty regarding how the Ebola outbreak occurs. Researchers hypothesize that the initial human infection occurs through contact with an infected animal (Sullivan et al., 2003). Causes of Ebola: Transmission Once a person is infected with the Ebola virus, the disease spreads from human to human through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected individuals, such as blood and secretions. The transmission usually occurs during the final stages of infection (Sullivan et al., 2003).

The incubation period for Ebola—time between infection and symptom onset—is typically 2 to 21 days. The virus does not spread through food, air, water, or insect bites (e.g., mosquitoes). Because of this, the likelihood of a global epidemic remains low, especially with effective containment measures such as isolation and quarantine of infected individuals and their contacts. Compared to other infectious diseases like HIV, smallpox, and measles, Ebola has a relatively low transmission rate; for each infected individual, about two others are at risk of infection (Kucharski et al., 2013).

Common Ebola Symptoms Symptoms often develop suddenly and include fever, sore throat, weakness, severe headache, joint and muscle aches, vomiting, dehydration, dry cough, stomach pain, and in pregnant women, miscarriage and vaginal hemorrhage. Death usually occurs within the second week after symptom onset due to significant blood loss (Sullivan et al., 2003).

Early diagnosis is challenging because initial symptoms mimic other illnesses, and laboratory testing is needed to confirm the presence of the virus or antibodies. The diagnosis involves medical history assessment, physical examination, and lab tests to detect Ebola virus or antibodies (Sanchez, 2001).

Reasons for Public Paranoia The public's fear is intensified by media reports, airline cancellations from West Africa, and screening checkpoints, creating the perception that the disease is out of control. Misdiagnoses of other diseases as Ebola contribute to panic, and news of confirmed cases in countries like the United States further heighten anxiety (Lena, Dennis, & Bernstein, 2014).

The perception that developed nations are unable to contain Ebola has increased public fear. Despite measures such as quarantine and surveillance, reports of cases like the first Ebola diagnosis on American soil evoke concern over the effectiveness of response strategies. Some critics argue that responses came too late or were insufficient (Lena, Dennis, & Bernstein, 2014).

Ebola Diagnosis: An Overview Diagnosing Ebola involves medical history collection, physical exams, and laboratory testing to identify the virus and immune response. However, early diagnosis remains difficult because initial symptoms are nonspecific and resemble other illnesses. Advanced laboratory techniques are essential for confirmation (Sanchez, 2001).

Current Treatment and Vaccination Efforts Though there is no definitive cure for Ebola, supportive care—such as hydration, electrolyte management, and symptom control—improves survival chances. The mortality rate remains high, ranging from 50% to 90% (Sanchez, 2001). The search for an effective vaccine continues, with several candidates showing promise in animal trials and early human testing (Naik, 2014). Vaccination aims to prevent the disease before infection occurs, and recent developments include vaccine candidates that induce immune responses in primates and humans (Naik, 2014).

Prevention and Control Strategies Behavior change plays a pivotal role in preventing Ebola outbreaks. Public health guidelines emphasize the importance of protective clothing, proper sanitation, isolation of infected individuals, and quarantine of contacts (Kucharski et al., 2013). Educating the public about avoiding contact with infected persons and their bodily fluids is critical in controlling transmission (Leroy et al., 2004).

The development of vaccines and improved diagnostic tools enhance the capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to Ebola outbreaks. Community engagement, health worker training, and international collaboration are essential components in the fight against Ebola (WHO, 2014).

In conclusion, despite its high mortality rate and challenges in early diagnosis and treatment, Ebola is a manageable disease. With effective public health measures, scientific innovations like vaccines, and public cooperation, the spread of Ebola can be controlled and eventually eradicated. Continued research, investment in healthcare infrastructure, and education are vital to overcoming future outbreaks and dispelling public fears rooted in misinformation.

References

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Ebola Virus Disease. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/
  • Kucharski, J., Nishiura, H., & Deeks, L. (2013). Containing Ebola virus infection in West Africa. Euro Surveillance, 19(36).
  • Leroy, E. M., Rouquet, P., Formenty, P., Souquiere, S., Kilbourne, A., Froment, J. M., & Rollin, P. E. (2004). Multiple Ebola virus transmission events and rapid decline of central African wildlife. Science, 303(5656), 387-390.
  • Naik, G. (2014). Ebola Virus Treatment Provides Hope for Human Cases. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com
  • Sanchez, A. (2001). Ebola Viruses. John Wiley & Sons.
  • Sullivan, N. J., Geisbert, T. W., Geisbert, J. B., Xu, L., Yang, Z. Y., Roederer, M., & Nabel, G. J. (2003). Accelerated vaccination for Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever in non-human primates. Nature, 424(6949), 681-684.
  • World Health Organization (WHO). (2014). Ebola virus disease. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). Transmission of Ebola Virus Disease. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/transmission/index.html

Related Assignments