Have you ever heard about the Ebola virus? Not really, because people are not much aware of this virus. It is a serious disease which is very common in human and non-human primates. This virus usually spreads when you are in direct contact with the animals. Today we are going to talk about this disease and how it can be cured effectively.

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What is the Ebola Virus?

Ebola Virus is a deadly disease which is more commonly affecting people and animals like (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). It is caused by an infection with a group of viruses within the genus Ebolavirus: Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus). There are five strains and four of them can make people sick.

What are the Symptoms of the Ebola Virus?

There are a few symptoms of this disease such as:

1. High fever

2. Headache

3. Joint and muscle aches

4. Sore throat

5. Weakness

6. Stomach pain

7. Lack of appetite

When the disease gets worse, it causes bleeding inside the body, as well as in the eyes, ears, and nose. A few people will vomit or cough up blood, have bloody diarrhea, and get a rash.

What are the Causes of the Ebola Virus?

Ebola is caused by viruses in the Ebolavirus and Filoviridae family. Ebola is examining a zoonosis, meaning which the virus is present in animals and is transmitted to humans.

How this transmission appears at the onset of an outbreak in humans is unknown. It depends on person-to-person transmission and appears after someone infected with this virus becomes symptomatic. Generally, it can take between 2 to 21 days for symptoms to develop, a person with Ebola may have been in contact with hundreds of people, which is why an outbreak can be hard to control and may spread rapidly.

What are the Risk Factors of the Ebola Virus?

There is a high risk of becoming infected when:

1. Traveling to areas of Africa where there have been confirmed cases of Ebola.

2. Conducting animal research with monkeys imported from Africa or the Philippines.

3. Providing medical or personal care to people who may have been exposed to Ebola.

4. Preparing people for burial who have been infected with Ebola.

How Does Ebola Transmission Occur in Humans?

Transmission of Ebola between humans can occur through:

• Direct contact with broken skin and mucous membranes with the blood, secretions, organs, or other body fluids of infected people.

• Indirect contact with environments contaminated with such fluids.

• Exposure to contaminated objects, like needles.

• Inhuman ceremonies in which mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased.

• Exposure to the semen of people with Ebola or who have recovered from the disease – the virus can still be transmitted through semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery from illness.

• Contact with patients with suspected or confirmed EVD – healthcare laborer have frequently been infected while treating patients. There is no proof that Ebola can be spread via insect bites.

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How to Prevent from Ebola Virus?

There’s a vaccine to prevent Ebola Virus but the vaccine is not available in India. The only way to avoid catching the disease is by not traveling to areas where the virus is found.

If you are present in the areas where Ebola is present, avoid contact with bats, monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas since these animals spread Ebola to people.

Health care laborers can prevent infection by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles whenever they come into contact with people who may have Ebola.

What is the Best Treatment of the Ebola Virus?

At present, there is no licensed vaccine available for this virus. Some vaccines are being tested, but at this time, none are available for clinical use. According to the research, the vaccine named rVSV-ZEBOV was developed in a trial involving 11,841 people during 2015. Among the 5,837 people who received the vaccine, no Ebola cases were recorded within 10 days or more after vaccination.

The treatment for Ebola is limited to intensive support care which includes:

1.  Balancing the patient’s fluids and electrolytes.

2. Maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure.

3. Treating a patient for any complicating infections.

Conclusion

In the above article, we have talked about the Ebola Virus and its symptoms, causes, risk factors, and the treatment. It is best to avoid this condition by following the above-mentioned steps. In case of any severe complications, consult your doctor to start the proper treatment.

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