...Statement of the Issue: There are many pressing health issues to be addressed in the upcoming election. In light of the recent Ebola outbreak, you will be expected to choose a position on this issue and a course of action. Ebola is a rare and deadly disease that originated in what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, it is caused by infection with one of the five Ebola species. It can be transmitted through blood or bodily fluids, objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus, infected fruit bats or primates. Symptoms of a person infected with the virus include fever, severe headache, fatigue, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained bleeding or bruising. Symptoms may appear anywhere form 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus, and a person is...
Words: 1036 - Pages: 5
...unfounded, based on fear not fact (Grace, 2014). I found her attitude not only ambiguous, but self-centered and showing little concern for her friends, family, and neighbors. Living in South Mississippi myself, and in light of recent cases of travel related Ebola in the United States, I wanted to know if these concerns are truly founded or not. I used Local TV and newspaper articles, CDC website, and various articles I found on the Virtual Library to research the situation. In my opinion, based on my research, these people did not research well enough or reached a decision based on their personal bias rather than fact. My research shows that although there has not been any cases reported in Ghana, where they actually went, there have been cases in the neighboring countries of Sierra Leonne, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, and Nigeria, with travel related cases popping up all over the world. Therefore, there is some danger of being exposed to Ebola, and in spite of expert disagreement over the risk of outbreaks outside of Africa, they all agree on one thing: control is dependent on proper handling of patients and contaminated waste and that the possibility of human error is a very real threat. This is demonstrated by the cases of Ebola that turned up in Dallas, Texas and New York. My conclusion is that any reasonable person would realize that...
Words: 2970 - Pages: 12
...1A I do. New diseases and pandemics shock government and individuals, and are difficult to treat. This remained true in the past, whether it be the Black Death or the Influenza pandemic of 1918, and true today, as examined by governments and society trying to adjust to the new threats of Ebola and Zika. The 1918 influenza pandemic and the current response to Zika can be compared by examining how similar they are in terms of showing how government quarantines can be counter productive and how government actions taken during the flu hurt the Ebola response in the modern world. Pg5. Many governments took efforts to stop the spreading of the flu in 1918. Some tried to promote public health and boost morale by framing the flu as a “metaphor...
Words: 2228 - Pages: 9
...Ebola The 2014 Ebola was the largest epidemic virus in history, causing a colossal damage in the human body prolonging them to death. The notoriously deadly virus cause fearsome symptoms, the most prominent being high fever and massive internal bleeding. Ebola virus kills as many as 90 % of the people it infects. It is one of the viruses that is capable of causing hemorrhagic (bloody) fever. Ebola spreads through direct contact with bodily fluids. A cough from a sick person could infect someone who has been sprayed with saliva. This is why the virus has often been spread through the families and friends of infected persons: in the course of feeding, holding, or otherwise caring for them, family members and friends would come into close contact with such secretions. The Ebola virus infects by entering a host cell and realizing a small piece of RNA. The RNA hijacks the machinery of the cell and uses it to create more copies of the Ebola virus, which turn into another cells. Specialist at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta have also found that the virus is present on patient’s skin after symptoms develop. Underlining how contagious the disease in once symptoms set in. In effect, Symptoms usually begin about eight to 10 days after exposure to the virus, but can appear as late as 21 days after exposure, according to the C.D.C (center for disease control). At first, it seems much like a flu: a headache, fever and aches and pains. Sometimes there...
Words: 788 - Pages: 4
...State Department Alert: Potential Implications for travel because of Ebola in West Africa August 28, 2014 www.travel.state.gov/content/passports/English/alertswarnings/ebola-west-africa.html Over the years the human race has encountered hundreds of diseases that not only spread rapidly but wipe out entire clans. This year, 2014, we are in contact with Ebola (EVD). Ebola is an infectious and generally fatal disease marked by fever and severe internal bleeding, spread through contact with infected body fluids by a filovirus (Ebola virus) (google.com). The big alert (travel 3 level) is now in West Africa and anyone traveling are subject to extensive testing upon leaving. The outbreak is scattered and is continuing to stretch slowly across Africa. The alert is currently in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. These country-states are not the only ones, so anyone pretty much traveling to Africa will be subject to screening. Evaluations may include movement restrictions up to twenty-one days in containment to make sure no virus is detected. At this point in time there are to be absolutely no exceptions as to who must get screened or withheld. Even the President of the United States may get withheld if he was to visit. The Department of States Bureau of Consular Affairs nor the United States Embassy have the authority over quarantine issues. As for the people in these country-states, it seems they are not even allowed to travel other cities amongst themselves. Not to...
Words: 418 - Pages: 2
...All eyes have been on West Africa for the past few months, because they are being plagued by the Ebola Virus. Oxford dictionary states, “Ebola is an infectious generally fatal disease marked by fever and severe internal bleeding, spread through contact with infected body fluids by a filovirus (Ebola Virus), whose normal host species is unknown.” Catherine E Schoiet, Ashley Frantz, and Holly Yan from C.N.N wrote an article named “Hospital “Dropped the Ball” with Ebola Patient`s Travel History NIH official says.”In the past few weeks the first case of Ebola has been diagnosed on American soil in Dallas, Texas. The patient name is Thomas Eric Duncan. He is from Liberia and flew from there to Dallas to visit his family . He went to the Texas Health...
Words: 872 - Pages: 4
...Ebola Outbreak An Unknown Virus Cedric Smith Strayer University I have been doing some research on Ebola, and here is what I have found out. Ebola and Hepatitis C have some similar symptoms; they both are spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of the infected patients and from needles that have been in contact with the patients. While contained outbreaks have happened, there have not been any mass outbreaks like with Ebola. My hypothesis is that should an Ebola outbreak occur in the US, we will be able to contain the outbreak. Ebola first emerged in Sudan and Zaire in 1976. The first outbreak of Ebola (named after the Ebola River in Zaire) infected over 284 people, with a mortality rate of 53%. “Ebola,” however, is not just one Ebola: There are 4 distinguishable subtypes. The second Ebola virus emerged from Yambuku, Zaire, Ebola-Zaire (EBOZ), with the highest mortality rate of any of the Ebola viruses (88%), infected 318 people. Despite the tremendous effort of effort of experienced and dedicated researches, Ebola natural reservoir was never identified. The third strain of Ebola, Ebola Reston (EBOR), was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia, from Mindanao in the Philippines. The few people who were infected with EBOR never developed Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). The last known strain of Ebola, Ebola Cote d’Ivoire (EBO-CI) was discovered in 1994 when a female ethnologist performing a necropsy on a dead chimpanzee...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
...ETHICAL DILEMMA CJS/211 September 1, 2014 Michael Raneses ETHICAL DILEMMA EBOLA VIRUS Ebola virus appeared in Sudan, Zaire in 1976. The very first outbreak of the Ebola virus was named Sudan Ebola virus and it infected over 284 people, killing 53% of its victims. Another strain of the infection came infecting 318 people; this strain was called the Zaire Ebola virus. It had the highest mortality rate of 88%, and at this time the researchers were not able to pin point where the Ebola virus had originated from. The third subtype of the virus is known as Reston-Ebola and was identified in1989 when it infected monkeys that were being imported to Reston, Virginia from Philippines. The virus also has infected some of the patients, but the patients did not develop the Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The fourth subtype had occurred during 1994 when an ethnologist was during a necropsy on a dead chimpanzee. The ethnologist accidentally infected herself while she was performing the necropsy on the chimpanzee. Ebola has become more prevalent in Africa, where there is an outbreak. The Ebola virus is worsening in West Africa and the director of the Center of Disease Control and Prevention urge traveling warning to any person that may be going any of the three West Africa countries that have been hit by the outbreak. Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone the disease have killed all together more than 700 individuals this year alone. This outbreak can become a “global pandemic”...
Words: 1648 - Pages: 7
...there is no proven vaccine or cure for Ebola. Without a vaccine, the virus poses a great threat to global public health. Standard treatment is still confined to supportive therapy. Supportive therapy is done in patients through administering intravenous fluids (IV) and balancing electrolytes or body salts, sustaining oxygen levels and ensuring normal blood pressure, and treating patients for consequent complicating infections. Early supportive care, coupled with proper rehydration and treatment of the symptoms will improve survival. Contracting Ebola does not categorically equate to death. With proper care, there is a good chance that patients will survive this disease. Within a few days after manifesting the symptoms, tests such...
Words: 1296 - Pages: 6
...New York revises controversial policy on Ebola quarantines amid pressure New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) on Sunday revised a controversial policy to quarantine returning health-care workers from Ebola-stricken nations, under pressure from the Obama administration and medical experts over the aggressive measures. Elaborating on the procedures, Cuomo said health-care workers who have been in contact with Ebola patients but do not show symptoms of the deadly virus can return to their homes but will be forced to remain there while being monitored by state health officials for symptoms. He said those being monitored can interact with family and friends. “It’s not like this is the toughest duty,” Cuomo said in a news conference late Sunday with New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D). The change separates the state’s quarantine process from that of New Jersey, which has come under scrutiny after the weekend retention of a nurse who showed no symptoms of Ebola. Kaci Hickox, who returned from Sierra Leone after working with Doctors Without Borders, has been held in isolation at a site attached to a New Jersey hospital. On Sunday, Hickox told CNN’s Candy Crowley on “State of the Union”: “This is an extreme that is really unacceptable, and I feel like my basic human rights have been violated.” Cuomo said New York’s new policy is more in line with those of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said people who are quarantined in their homes will be able to interact with...
Words: 1542 - Pages: 7
...EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE AND NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL INTRODUCTION 1. Governments worldwide desire an epidemic free and healthy nation. The outbreak of the highly contagious Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) with fatality rate of up to 90 per cent could become an epidemic if not contained. It is a serious concern to governments since it threatens the health and Well-being of the Citizens (WC) and invariably the National Security (NS) of countries. 2. In the United States of America (USA), the infection of 2 missionaries with EVD while working in Liberia, prompted President Obama to stress that EVD is a threat to the NS of USA. The current EVD outbreak in West Africa has reached an epidemic level and has spread across Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. By 25 Oct 14, World Health Organization (WHO) reported 10,141 cases. The fatalities have negative effect on human resource and businesses, restrict movement and cause general panic thereby affecting the NS of these countries. 3. In Nigeria, there were confirmed cases of EVD in Lagos and Rivers States. The Federal Government of Nigeria’s (FGN) efforts at isolating, treating and monitoring EVD cases led to its containment and thereby made WHO to declare Nigeria EVD free on 20 Oct 14. Despite these efforts, EVD could re-occur as seen in other countries and could threaten NS of Nigeria. The purpose of this paper therefore is to discuss EVD as it affects NS in Nigeria. The paper will cover conceptual...
Words: 1929 - Pages: 8
...EBOLA OUTBREAK INTRODUCTION An epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) is ongoing in West Africa. The outbreak began in Guinea in December 2013, but was not detected until March 2014, after which it spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. The outbreak is caused by the Zaire ebola virus, known simply as the Ebola virus (EBOV). It is the most severe outbreak of Ebola in terms of the number of human cases and deaths since the discovery of the virus in 1976, with the number of cases from the current outbreak now outnumbering the combined cases from all known previous outbreaks. Another outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has killed 13 people as of 26 August 2014, is believed to be unrelated to the West African outbreak. Initial outbreak in Guinea Researchers believe that the first human case of the Ebola virus disease leading to the 2014 outbreak was a 2-year-old boy who died 6 December 2013 in the village of Meliandou, Guéckédou Prefecture, Guinea. His mother, 3-year-old sister and grandmother then became ill with symptoms consistent with Ebola infection and died. People infected by those victims spread the disease to other village. On 19 March, the Ministry of Health acknowledged a local outbreak of an undetermined viral hemorrhagic fever; the outbreak, ongoing since February, had sickened at least 35 people and killed 23....
Words: 1923 - Pages: 8
...Brianna Cole Mrs. Wicks Literature and Composition, Period 5 November 10, 2014 Ebola: Are We Ready Ebola is the Human races worse nightmare; a fast and indiscriminate killer that so far we cannot stop. The latest outbreak began when a 2-year-old boy fell ill on December 6, 2013 in Guinea. () Since then the virus have spread across Southern Africa and to other countries throughout the world. As of October 24, 2014 Ebola infected a total of 8 countries including; Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Mali, Senegal, Nigeria, Spain, and The United states.() A total of 10141 people from these eight countries has been infected and of these people 4922 have died(See Chart 2 for details).() Of these 10,141 people, 4 of them were Americans. ()...
Words: 2530 - Pages: 11
...Ebola virus disease Key facts * Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. * The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. * The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. * The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in west Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas. * Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilisation. * Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is as yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development. * There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but 2 potential candidates are undergoing evaluation. Background The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. Ebola virus disease (EVD) first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in Nzara, Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near...
Words: 2440 - Pages: 10
...Helping. The coming of Ebola and its subsequent global spread has becoming impossible to ignore. In just over 8 months, the virus has infected a confirmed amount of almost 18,000 people worldwide, with over 6,000 of those cases resulting in death (CDC). Coinciding with the sudden appearance of cases emerging within the United States, the country is experiencing its most widespread health scare since the introduction of AIDS in the 1980’s. The thought of contracting the disease is terrifying, capable of invoking strong instinctual reactions, especially when considering the near 60% kill rate and the horrendous damage it can cause to the body. While we have witnessed a Third-World...
Words: 2815 - Pages: 12
