EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE

 EBOLA virus is a viral hemorrhagic fever.It is caused by Ebola virus,a member of the FILOVIRUS family.It was first reported in DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO(DRC) near the Ebola river in 1976,hence the name.It is called hemorrhagic fever because it leads to clotting disorders which in turn lead to internal bleeding.It also results in inflammation and damage to tissues.Ebola is transmitted from wild animals mainly,African fruit bats and then spreads through human to human transmission.The average fatality rate is near about 50%.The main symptoms of the disease are

1.  Fever 
2.  Aches and Pains
3.  Fatigue
4.  Loss of appetite 
5.  Sore throat 
6.  GI disorders-Diarrhoea, vomitting,etc 

      The virus also attacks spleen and kidneys in addition to immune system and kills the cells that are necessary for regulating body fluid distribution  and chemical balance and proteins required in blood clotting mechanism.            

      

        The incubation period of the virus lies between 2 to 20 days. It spreads by direct contact with blood or body fluids like breast milk,semen,sweat and so on and so forth.The virus mainly affect/s/ed west Africa.Countries like Liberia and Sierra-Leone reported nearly 28000 cases and near about 11000 deaths.A fewer cases and deaths occured outside these countries.

        The deaths mainly happen due to  shock caused by fluid loss and occur between 6 to 15 days after symptom appearance. 

           

      

        The detection of the virus can be done in the patients blood after the appearance of symptoms.The virus can be detected after minimum 3 days of symptom appearance.The most common method used for Ebola virus detection is Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).It is a very sensitive method and detects even low levels of Ebola virus. 

     Treatment

      Currently there is no treatment or vaccine For Ebola virus diseases,although some vaccines and drugs are being tried.As goes the saying that'Prevention is better than cure' if in any area Ebola outbreak happens The area should be immediately quarantined and the affected people be kept in isolation and treated at the earliest to control widespread infections and reduce mortality rate. 

      Vaccines 

         A vaccine named as rVSV-ZEBOV developed by Merck is undergoing clinical trials rigorously and is said to be a potential future vaccine.

       

       

       Two drugs treatments have been approved which include 'Inmazeb-A mixture of three monoclonal antibodies and 'Ebanga-A single monoclonal antibody. 

      With the recent successful use of vaccines and novel strategies like quarantine and isolation in the treatment of COVID -19, Scientists are working vigorously for developing efficient vaccines and drugs which could help in eradication of Ebola Virus disease in near future.