Ebola is a frightening disease that has been shown to wipe out entire villages in remote regions of West Africa. Its victims are suddenly struck with illness, their health dramatically declining as they struggle to avoid death. Without immediate intervention, Ebola can very easily spread throughout the population, where an epidemic takes place. So how to you contract Ebola and how does it spread through the body? What is Ebola? Ebola is a virus with a sudden onset and can progress to extreme bleeding and organ failure if not treated properly. Left untreated, its victims have minimal chance of survival. Ebola is believed to come from certain host animals, such as fruit bats and monkeys, where humans have come in contact with blood or bodily fluids of an infected animal. Forest animals are consumed regularly, in the diet of African tribes. Once a human has contracted Ebola from infected animals, it can easily be spread through direct contact with others. If someone is infected with Ebola, they must be kept in isolation and treated immediately to prevent the spread to others. Ebola is named after the Ebola River which is located in Congo, where the disease was first discovered. There are five known species of Ebola Virus:

Symptoms of Ebola While symptoms may take up to 21 days to appear from the time of infection, Ebola begins as any other virus with early symptoms being: § Muscle pain and aching joints § Vomiting § Diarrhea § Severe weakness § Headaches § A high fever § Dehydration § Lack of appetite § Sore throat Ebola can quickly spread throughout the body as the immune system is rapidly damaged. As the virus enters the later stages, symptoms become severe: § Large volumes of watery diarrhea (up to 5L or more per day have been reported) § Uncontrollable bleeding § Coughing blood § Abdominal pain § Confusion and delirium § Red rashes § Blood in stools § Multiple organ failure Background of Ebola cases First reported case The very first reported case of Ebola occurred in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo (back then known as Zaire). The outbreak started after contaminated needles were used at a local hospital in Northern Zaire. It resulted in 280 deaths of all 318 of those infected with the disease. In that same year, another outbreak occurred in South Sudan, again at a local hospital through personal contact, resulting in a further 151 deaths out of 284 infected.

How is Ebola diagnosed? What is so difficult about diagnosing Ebola is that early symptoms are very similar to other diseases. As with any exposure to bacteria, pathogen or virus, your body reacts by producing antibodies, in order to fight off the unknown substances in the body. Recognizing specific antibodies related to Ebola is important in diagnosing its presence. What makes Ebola so ruthless, is that it spreads quicker than the immune system can react. A rapid medical response is needed in diagnosing Ebola, as it becomes vital to halt the virus before it continues spreading. With reference to an extensive article published on The American Society for Microbiology “Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Disease: Past, Present and Future”, some of the main tests that are carried out, to determine if symptoms are in fact related to Ebola are: Cell culture: Viewed as the gold standard for detecting Ebola, the virus can be detected by microscope within cell culture. This is a highly effective test, as it is definitive, however is limited to public health laborites. Antibody detection: A blood test is taken to recognize if specific antibodies have been generated against Ebola. Protein Antigen Detection: Within the first few days of first symptoms showing, viral protein antigens can be detected within the blood.

Prevention Luckily, Ebola virus is incredibly rare in most regions of the world, and you do not need to worry about falling victim to its horrific symptoms. However, if you live in West Africa or are intending to travel there, you need to fully inform yourself on the current situation and risk of Ebola. Residents of Ebola affected areas If you live in parts of West Africa, or in other regions where outbreaks have previously occurred, extreme caution needs to be in place, including: § Seeking immediate medical attention should any loved ones show signs and symptoms of Ebola. Avoid direct contact with them, and most certainly with any bodily fluids. § Do rely on Western Medical treatment rather than local shaman or spiritual healers, claiming to have the powers to heal Ebola. § Avoid contact with deceased loved ones at any cultural funeral rituals, which would otherwise involve that direct contact, including traditional washing and cleaning of the body, and touching the face of the body after washing hands in a common bowl. § Education about Ebola virus is very important, including risk factors and what to do if you believe you, or someone you know might have contracted Ebola.