ª Disease Name: Ebola, Filoviridae (1)
ª Means of Transmission: Means of transmission are unknown but it’s believed that the first person to be infected comes into contact with an infected animal (3). Then people who come into contact with the infected person now contact this fatal viral disease (4).
ª Usual Reservoir(s): Reservoir is still unknown, but believed to be a zoonotic or animal borne (2).
ª Etiological Agent: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever is caused by 4 different strains of Ebola, 3 of the strains cause disease in Humans (7).
ª General Characteristics: Virions with many shapes; filamentous, simple, circular, or spherical (1). Virus shape is symmetrical.
ª Key Tests for Identification: The ELISA test, IgM ELISA, PCR and isolating the virus can help identify the Ebola virus. The ELISA test can be used within a few days of symptoms being present. The IgM test can be used after a few weeks of exposure to the virus or during recovery from Ebola (2).
ª Historical Information:
Ø Who Isolated Disease: The person who discovered the viral disease is unknown.
Ø When Ebola was Isolates: Disease was initially recognized in 1976 (3).
Ø Name Significance: Ebola Virus was named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo in Africa (3).
ª Signs and Symptoms of Disease: Fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, sore throat, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and limited liver and kidney functions (5).
ª Microbial Virulence Mechanisms: Enveloped viruses, also has spikes all around the outside of envelope (1).
ª Treatment of Ebola: Treatment of Ebola isn’t very hopeful. Providing electrolytes and fluids is crucial, but it’s mainly just a matter of seeing if someone survives the Ebola (4).
ª Current Research about Ebola Vaccine: Researchers are trying to develop a way to detect Ebola sooner. Scientists are also trying to investigate Ebola’s reservoir. When researchers determine how Ebola travels and is transmitted, The outbreaks of Ebola can then maybe be prevented (2).
ª Means of control/prevention: To control/prevent Ebola avoid areas where Ebola has become an epidemic. To prevent contracting Ebola, a person must where gowns, gloves, and masks around diseased patients (6).
References:
1) http://www.virology.net/Big_Virology/BVVirusList.html#E
2) http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/ebola.htm
3) http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/
4) http://www.brettrussell.com/personal/efaq.html
5) http://www.astdhpphe.org/infect/ebola.html
6) http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001339.htm
7) http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761580697/Ebola_Hemorrhagic_Fever.html