Ebola overview
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Ebola Microchapters |
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Overview |
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Diagnosis |
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Ebola overview On the Web |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Ebola is the common term for a group of viruses belonging to genus Ebola, family Filoviridae, and for the disease which they cause, Ebola hemorrhagic fever. The viruses are characterised by a long, filamentous morphology surrounded by a protein/lipid viral envelope. Ebola viruses are morphologically similar to the Marburg virus, also in the family Filoviridae, and share similar disease symptoms. Ebola has caused a number of serious and highly publicized outbreaks since its discovery.[1]
Historical Perspective
The virus is named after the Ebola River Valley in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaïre), near the site of the first recognized outbreak in 1976, in a mission run by Flemish nuns.[2]
Causes
Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola fever) is caused by a virus belonging to the family called Filoviridae. Three have been reported to cause disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire virus, Ebola-Sudan virus, and Ebola-Ivory Coast virus. The human disease has so far been limited to parts of Africa. A very small number of people in the United States who were infected with the fourth type of the virus, known as Ebola Reston, did not develop any signs of disease.
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is potentially lethal and encompasses a range of symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise, and sometimes internal and external bleeding.
Laboratory Findings
Ebola would be categorized as a viral hemorrhagic fever. There are multiple tests available to test for and confirm the diagnosis of ebola (as well as other VHFs}
Treatment
Medical Therapy
Ebola is potentially lethal and since no approved vaccine or treatment is available. Treatment is primarily supportive and includes maintaining oxygen andblood levels and treating any complicating infections.
Primary Prevention
If transmission of ebola occurs, steps need to be taken to prevent further infection as well as transmission to other people. It is important to be able to prevent subsequent transmission of ebola. Transmission of ebola can be prevented by isolation of patient, wearing a HEPA or other biosafety mask and by limiting the movement of the patient from the room to other areas.
Future or Investigational Therapies
There is new research, that has been tested on monkeys, which shows some promising results as far as protection from ebola. This new therapy has shown promise when it comes to treating accidental infections with the ebola virus, which would be a very important feat, especially for people working with ebola in laboratories[3]. The research, which took place under the supervision of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, uses a specific group of compounds called antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers, or PMOs[3]. The scientists eventually developed a therapy, which was referred to as AVI-6002, that was able to demonstrate a survival rate of approximately 90% in pre and post-exposure animals[3]. Using this new treatment, 5 out of 8 monkeys were able to survive exposure to the ebola virus, which are very promising results. This new treatment could be very significant because it has been thought that ebola could be used as a biological weapon. Ebola has a very high mortality rate and it tends to infect and kill the patient rather quickly.
References
- ↑ Ebola Cases and Outbreaks - CDC Special Pathogens Branch. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved on 2007-12-08.
- ↑ Bardi, Jason Socrates (2002). "Death Called a River". Scribbs Research Institute 2 (1). Retrieved on 2006-12-08.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Novel 'antisense' therapies protect primates from lethal Ebola and Marburg viruses. Retrieved on 2012-04-20.
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