...of Contents Table of Contents Introduction Historical Occurrences of Ebola Countries Affected by the Current Outbreak How the Ebola Virus Spreads Current Level of Infection The Response to the Crisis i. Internally by the local government ii. The role of UN agencies iii. The role of Non governmental agencies iv. The role of the International community v. Canada’s role to date Canada’s Preparedness for a Mass Epidemic Conclusion Bibliography Page 1 of 16 2 3 3 6 8 9 11 13 14 15 EBOLA HAEMORRHAGIC FEVER Introduction This report will attempt to disseminate current and accurate information regarding the status of the Ebola Haemorrhagic fever. While western Africa is currently experiencing the largest outbreak of the Ebola virus in history, this severe and often fatal disease is also affecting thousands of innocent people across our world. Never has the medical community had to deal with such an outbreak. Not only do the medical professionals not know how to treat and handle afflicted patients, they are unable to contain this virus that is spreading at a violent speed. This report will discuss the following issues surrounding Ebola: Historical Occurences, Countries Currently Affected, How the Virus Spreads, Current Level of Infection, Response to the Crisis and Canada’s preparedness for a mass epidemic. Historical Occurrences of Ebola Ebola virus disease, or Ebola haemorrhagic fever first appeared in 1976, in Nzara, Sudan and Yambuku...
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...Ebola viral disease: What is to be Done? On March 21, 2014, there was a report of a disease that was ripping through African countries. It was soon discovered that the disease was the Ebola viral disease also known as EVD. In a matter of a few short months, the Ebola virus was reported in three of Guinea’s Conakry city districts named Gueckedou, Macenta, and Kissidougou, in Liberia’s Foya district, and in Sierra Leone (Dixon, Meredith G., and Ilana J. Schafer). On October 23, 2014, there was the first recorded Ebola case in the United States. There would be three more confirmed cases before the news would declare that the United States was Ebola-free. Those that had been infected with the virus had picked them up while in Guinea and had been transported to the U.S. for treatment. There was a scare when two health care personnel tested positive with the virus while caring for others. However, due to Emory Hospital’s fantastic protocols, the virus was contained and eventually cleared from the United States (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Nonetheless, the Ebola viral disease is a deadly virus most commonly found in African countries in which outbreaks have occurred throughout history; but through careful procedures, and a change in current ideals, it can be contained and even prevented on a broader scale. The first main concept is the Ebola is a deadly disease that has affected hundreds around the world and currently does not have a cure. According to...
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...EBOLA VIRUS (EBOV)1 Ebola Virus (EBOV) Alaina White Microbiology 11/04/2014 EBOLA VIRUS (EBOV)2 Ebola Virus (EBOV) The Ebola virus causes a serious illness, that causes haemorrhagic fever in humans and animals which, if it is not treated in time is often fatal. Diseases that are fatal like Ebola, affect the body's vascular system, which makes it hard for the blood to circulte through the body. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the first notification of the ebola virus was mentioned in the Ebola River valley in Zaire for the time of an outburst in 1976 (Olival et al., 2013). Researchers claim that the virus is zoonotic (animal-borne), with 4 out of 5 subtypes that happen in animal hosts close to Africa (MacNeil et al., 2010). Literature Review It has been proven by scientists that the Ebola virus can be transferred from one human beng to another by means of bodily contact. The common geographic territory that ia mostly influenced by divergent subtypes of the Ebola virus is Central Africa, especially the cities of Zaire, Sudan, and Gabon (Chepurnov, Bakulina, Dadaeva, Ustinova, & Chepurnova, 2009). Ebola virus infection runs its course from 14 to 21 days. Firstly, the infection can be identified with symptoms that are uncommon for the flu, including malaise, fever, and muscles pain. With the progress of infection, patients experience acute bleeding and coagulation abnormalities such as a rash, gastrointestinal bleeding (Chepurnov, Bakulina, Dadaeva...
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...Name: Professor: Title: Date of Submission: Origin and Spread Ebola Background According to WHO, Ebola which is a serious, acute illness if untreated is very fatal (WHO.Int). Ebola virus disease first appearance was in two simultaneous outbreaks back in 1976. One was in Yambuku in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the other in Nzara, Sudan. The name Ebola sprout from Yambuku neighbors a river known as Ebola River. In 2014, the first case was notified in March which is the most recent and is still a current outbreak in the West of Africa. Ideally, this is the most complex and largest Ebola outbreak since the 1976 first appearance. The numbers of deaths are the highest (WHO.Int). The spread began in Guinea before spreading to the bordering nations including Liberia and Sierra Leone, then to Nigeria through one traveller on air, and to Senegal through on traveller on land. Ebola hemorrhagic fever also the Ebola virus disease or simply Ebola is a disease of primates including humans whose cause is Ebola viruses. Fever, headaches, muscle pain and sore throats are the initial signs and symptoms that develop between two days and three weeks upon contracting the virus. Decreased function of the kidney and liver then follow in addition to rash, diarrhea and vomiting. At this time, it is likely to observe both external and internal bleeding. The risk of death in relation to Ebola is significantly high. Killings between 25% and 90% are recorded of those infected which extends to...
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...Melissa Galarza May 26, 2015 A Journal of the Ebola Year Early Events of Ebola in Liberia: It was March 24th, 2014 when I first heard of the term Ebola. I, among the rest of my neighbors, were confused as to what exactly was happening. The Liberian Ministries of Information, Culture, Tourism and Health announced that two individuals from Lofa and Nimba County grew sick with symptoms of the virus. However, there was no confirmation. Some people said it was a government scam to attract Western aid; others said it was a deadly virus. Whichever it was, the only thing that mattered was that it was present in Liberia, near my home, Gbarpolu. My name is Juliet and at just 19 years old, I experienced the most devastating epidemic my country has ever faced. I’m a very curious person, so this became a journey to finding myself and helping others. However, my mother, father and younger sister of 9 years old were struck with terror when they gained knowledge of Ebola. They all relied on me to keep them safe since I was the only one who’s made it so far in school. We were a middle class family living in Gbarpolu and although we weren’t poor, we couldn’t afford to flee the country as a family. Actually, we could’ve but my father refused to use the money I had saved up for college to flee. So typical of him. Despite staying in Liberia during an intense epidemic, we dealt with it as knowledgeably as possible. This was only because we had the help of the internet – we are one out of 10...
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...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...
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...The report will define ebola. though the research the following findings can be made about ebola. Ebola belongs to the virus family of Filoviridae. There are four different strands of ebola, and only three of these strands causes death in humans. All virons classified as hemorrhagic are enveloped so covered RNA viruses. Hemorrhagic is a internal problem will bleeding or abnormal flow of blood in the body that is ongoing. The ebola virus itself, physically is 920 nm in length and diameter, it is averagely this size when it is in the most sterile environments in full protective suiting. Ebola is spread though direct contact with blood or other bodily fluid or recreation. When someone becomes infected, it is very common in a small community to...
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...How to Stop the Spread of Ebola? Ebola virus disease (EVD; also Ebola hemorrhagic fever, or EHF), or simply Ebola, is a disease of humans and other primates caused by ebolaviruses. 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 the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. The current outbreak in west Africa, (first cases notified in March 2014), is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. There have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined. It has also spread between countries starting in Guinea then spreading across land borders to Sierra Leone and Liberia, by air (1 traveller only) to Nigeria, and by land (1 traveller) to Senegal. Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic 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 various medical agencies have identified the methods needed to be implemented for stopping the spread of Ebola, however , the most pertinent and requisite necessity is...
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...Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Some of the most deadly killers can’t even be seen with the human eye. These microscopic predators are known as viruses. In my report, I will explain about one of the most deadly killing viruses, the Ebola virus. Ebola was named after the Ebola River in Zaire, which in 1976 is where the virus had first developed. The first outbreak infected over 284 people. Just a few months later there was a second outbreak from Yambuku, Zaire, which infected about 318 people. Ebola’s natural source was never identified, even with the astounding effort of experienced and dedicated researchers. The third strain of Ebola was first identified in 1989 when infected monkeys were imported into Reston, Virginia. The most recent outbreak of Ebola started with a pregnant woman from Ikanamongo Village that had butchered a wild animal. She became sick and reported to a private clinic in Isaka Village then later died on August 11, 2014, meaning that several healthcare workers had been exposed to the Ebola virus. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is the largest ever recorded in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. Although, most sources said the risk of Ebola coming to the United States was very low, there has recently been a case of Ebola in Dallas, Texas. Officials say they can keep it contained from spreading any further. As the Ebola virus travels through the human body, it begins damaging the immune system and the organs. It causes the clotting of blood to stop. If...
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...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”...
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...Epidemic Paper Ebola In the late 2014 and early 2015 there was this great outbreak of deadly Ebola in many countries in West Africa. The Ebola virus disease was formerly referred as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The outbreak has happened in the past, but the recent one was a massive. It proclaimed much life that the west was a no-go zone due to fear of transmission. Due to the collaboration of many world health organizations and non-government organizations the epidemic was controlled and maintained. An epidemic disease is a disease that on outbreak it proclaims many lives in a short period of time before been controlled (Chowell et al. 2015). Ebola, as stated, is caused by a virus pathogen, it a virus is from Filoviridae family which include three main genera: Cuevavirus, Marburgvirus, and Ebolavirus. These are the main viruses responsible for the massive outbreak of Ebola last year in West Africa. For an extensive period of the spell, it is believed that the virus originated from infected animals and transmitted to human through food. Fruits bat of the Pteropodidae family is seen as the carrier of the Ebola virus. The virus was introduced into the human population through close contact with body fluids like blood, saliva, and sweat. From one human to the other the virus is transmitted via direct contact with bodily fluids or material, which had a contact with, infected people (Chowell et al. 2015). The virus is such a deadly to the extent that it resides even in dead bodies...
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...Video: “EBOLA” Reflection Paper In the year 1976, Ebola climbed out of its unknown hiding place, and caused the death of 340 people. In 2014, Ebola once again had climbed out of its hiding place and caused an outbreak in West Africa. A total of 2,000 deaths and thousands of cases documented by the end of 2014 that left all in panic. Feared gripped upon victim’s faces, and uncertainty tortured the minds of all on this planet including myself as a medical staff nurse. There had been more transmission between humans in the past four months than there had ever in the past 500 or more years concerning this deadly Ebola virus. As the infections transmitted and multiplied, it evolved so fast that any single mode vaccine could very well not contain it. As the body count tallies where up, it’s was beginning to appear like Ebola may be some kind of population reduction scheme as we all saw and the video portrayed. The people of Zaire where waiting outside of clinics, churches and in their homes for a treatment of this horrible disease, but there was no cure or vaccine at hand. Seeing this video and watching the news on TV made me feel helpless as a medical staff individual. Fear was upon us at hospitals, as we forced to watch people die on a daily basis thru the media, hoping that they would be saved from the violent death of the Ebola virus. Hospital nationwide where building isolation centers and procedures for cases appearing in the United States. Scientist...
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...Anatomy and Physiology II 25 April 2013 Ebola According to Aubrey Stimola, author of Ebola, it all started in the town of Yambuku, Zaire, which is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. A two week trip to a northern, African jungle had led forty-four year old Mabalo Lokela. All of a sudden, he began experiencing a headache. He stopped by a mission hospital, which was run by nuns. After examining him, they concluded it to be malaria, gave him a quinine injection with one of their five needles, and sent him on his way. Two days later, another man came in with bizarre symptoms, including diarrhea and a heavily bleeding nose, which no amount of anti-biotic would cure. Little did the nuns know, this was the start of a viral epidemic (Stimola 22). Unfortunately for Mabalo, he was the index case for the Ebola Zaire Hemorrhagic Fever (Stimola 27). Since its discovery in 1976, the medical world has been trying to discover what the natural reservoir of this virus is. Some research, reported by Baylor College of Medicine (DMVM,) states that Ebola naturally occurs in fruit bats. In some cases, the three species of bats showed no symptoms of the fever (DMVM). This would, in turn, cause it to become the perfect reservoir for the virus. Incubation of the virus happens within 2-21 days. Initial symptoms of the virus are simple, and seemingly non-life threatening; a mild headache and high fever accompanied by nausea and vomiting cause it to be mistaken for malaria. ...
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...The latest Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa has been described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the largest, most severe and most complex outbreak in the history of the disease. The epidemic began at the end of 2013, in Guinea. From there it spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. Many of the affected countries face enormous challenges in stopping its spread and providing care for all patients. Thousands of people have died and many are at risk as the fatality rate from this virus is very high. As the crisis worsens, as well as the enormous health challenges involved, the social and economic consequences may set these countries back, reversing some gains a number of these countries have made in recent years. Back to top Where does the Ebola virus come from? According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the US, the initial human infection comes from contact with an infected animal, most likely a bat. From there, human to human transmission spreads the disease. Virus Ecology Graphic, CDC, August 1, 2014 As The Guardian has noted, drugs and vaccines for Ebola has typically been low priority for the main drugs companies although now there is a new focus and sense of urgency: Until now, pharmaceutical firms have given Ebola very low priority. The few potential drugs and vaccines under development are now being sped into trials. Healthy volunteers in the UK and US have been injected with a candidate vaccine to test safety. Drug...
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...Ebola Virus Ebola is the virus that is currently discussed in the news today because of its deadly outcome and widespread outbreak on the southeastern Guinea communities in West Africa. First identified as the Ebola hemorrhagic fever, the Ebola disease is transported by wild animals yet spread also by human-to-human contact. Sun et al. (2014) stated in The Washington Post that this single virus may infect over 1.4 million people, is classified as an endemic, and could possibly affect other countries. Authors of the article noted that people were dying in the streets, the outbreak has surged past 5,800 people infected, and so far have been at least 2,800 deaths. Numbers related to the outbreak and subsequent deaths are rising daily. The New England Journal of Medicine (2014) stated the number of deaths related to Ebola is expected to increase by a thousand per week. According to the article, the citizens of Sierra Leone affected others at the rate of two to one. For every one person who becomes affected with the Ebola virus, then two other people in the population will become ill. The Guinea and Liberia communities are not affected at such an alarming rate, yet the virus is rapidly spreading. The World Health Organization (WHO) research team noted there are only a small percentage of treatments and vaccines for the virus that are able to treat the virus. The likelihood that the treatment would be available in large quantities is a small percentage. In West Africa, the...
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