Assessment of The Ebola Virus as a Severe Problem and Ways to Stop The Disease

Ebola virus, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, according to an Ebola media article, “is a severe and often fatal disease in humans.” The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads throughout human population through human contact and body fluid. The Ebola has been around since the 1970s/80s in countries like the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, the Ivory Coast and Uganda. The current Ebola outbreak which began in West Africa is the worst. There have actually been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than others before. The Ebola attacks the body, damaging the immune system and organs.

Ultimately this causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop leading to severe, uncontrollable bleeding. It is very possible that whoever cares for the sick person or buries them can contract the disease. Other ways to get Ebola are touching contaminated surfaces and needles. According to Web MD,” Ebola can’t be contracted from air, water, or food. “MD also mentioned that” the virus destroys connective tissue multiplying in collagen, which is what helps keep the organs in place. Ultimately it causes severe, uncontrollable bleeding. “Death is caused by loss of blood, shock or renal failure. There is little evidence that shows mosquitoes or other insects can spread Ebola.” Common animals like bats, monkeys and bush animals have shown ability to infect and spread the virus.

A person who has Ebola but has no symptoms can’t spread the disease. At first, Ebola can feel like the flu. CDC confirms the “symptoms take up 2 to 21 days after infected and usually include vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat and weakness. Ebola is very hard to trace and how it manages to survive in nature is unknown.” This killer virus is something as a nation we need to be concerned about because the first known case of Ebola was diagnosed in the US recently. It was found in a patient who lived in Dallas Texas shortly after a visit in Liberia. He got ill after returning to his home and went to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. He was originally treated and released but returned to the hospital because his symptoms worsened. Soon after testing, it revealed he had Ebola disease and unfortunately he passed away. He and others who have been in Ebola Territory and have come back to America, have exposed us to the virus whether they realize it or not. There are several cases of doctors and regular civilians who have come from Africa and when they returned to the US were tested positive.

Ebola is also an issue because there is no vaccine for it. This causes the survival rate to be low which is frightening. Research is trying its best to create a vaccine but are still testing it. Recovery from Ebola depends on the person’s immune system and good clinical care he or she receives. All the doctors can do at this point is to make sure the person has balancing electrolytes, maintains oxygen and blood pressure. It is also key to treat other infections if they occur.

Lastly, Ebola is an issue because it spreads very fast and easily. For example it can be received by simply sleeping next to a person that has the virus, or sharing materials used by the sick person. This is more serious than any other virus. Most viruses spread through secretions of the person but Ebola has the power to make you sick though basically anything. Because of this fact the virus is quick to spread to a lot of people because we constantly are in one another’s areas. Though all these facts may be devastating there are ways to help prevent the virus from reaching you. Some ways include washing hands or using sanitizer frequently, not sharing personal items, refraining from handling items that may have had body fluid on it, avoiding funerals that require the handling of the body of someone who may have died from Ebola, and avoiding contact with bats, primates, and raw meat that has not been checked and cleaned properly.

You can also avoid hospitals in West Africa where Ebola patients are being treated. The US embassy is able to provide adequate advice on facilities. It is also important to screen yourself if you or someone had come in contact with the virus. If you do eat foreign meat make sure they had no infection. BY taking these steps, you help yourself and others not get the virus and limit the spread of the disease. Together we can put a pause to Ebola.