The Ebola virus, which has broken out in remote northwest Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and spread to a city, a development likely to complicate containment efforts.
What it is?
Ebola — formally known as Ebola virus disease, or EVD — is severe and often lethal. The average fatality rate is around 50 per cent, varying from 25 per cent to 90 per cent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The latest outbreak, publicly declared on May 8, has seen 44 reported cases so far with 23 deaths, according to UN figures. Its epicentre is in the Bikoro area in remote Equateur province.
History
Ebola was first identified in 1976 by a team that included a young Belgian microbiologist, Peter Piot. They named the virus after a river in the Democratic Republic of Congo that was close to the location of the first known outbreak.
Transmission
The virus’ natural reservoir animal is probably the bat, which does not itself fall ill, but can pass the microbe on to humans who hunt it for food.
Chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines can also become infected with Ebola, which makes them potential vectors for transmission if they are killed and eaten.
Among humans, the commonest form of infection is through close contact with the blood, body fluids, secretions or organs of someone who is sick with Ebola or has recently died.The WHO says it is unclear whether the virus may be transmitted through sexual intercourse, but urges safe-sex practices among all Ebola survivors and their sexual partners.
Symptoms
Those infected do not become contagious until symptoms appear — something that happens after an incubation period of between two and 21 days. High fever, weakness, intense muscle and joint pain, headaches and a sore throat are often followed by vomiting and diarrhoea, skin eruptions, kidney and liver failure, internal and external bleeding.
After-effects have often been observed in survivors, including arthritis, problems with vision, eye inflammation and hearing difficulties.
Treatment
There is no licensed drug to prevent or treat Ebola. Health experts have responded with time-honoured measures of control, prevention and containment. They use rigorous protocols to protect medical personnel with disposable full-body suits, masks, goggles, gloves and disinfecting sprays. — afp
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