Scientific Name: Ebola Virus

Filoviridae family 4 strains Ebola-Zaire, EbolaSudan, Ebola-Cote dIvoire, Ebola-Reston Common name: Ebola Causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Description

RNA strand virus Coiled RNA in spike-covered envelope from host cell Long rods (800-1000 nm) Replication = 8 hours Therefore, spreads rapidly

Natural Habitat = Africa

Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Ebola-Zaire
Sudan

Sudan
Ebola-Sudan

Gabon Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast Gabon Congo Uganda

Ebola-Cote dIvoire

Uganda Republic of the Congo (not the DRC)

DRC

Natural Reservoir
Suspected to be a zoonotic (animalborne) However, it is unknown what organism carries it naturally without being infected

Suspected vectors Bats Primates (in some cases, have been confirmed) Basically any other animal native to Africa, including mosquitoes, ticks, birds, reptiles

No benefits Uses: Possible terror weapon (no uses)

Never normal flora in humans (it really sucks)

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Transmission Ebola-Reston has shown to be airborne The other three strains are transmitted by contact of any kind (fluids or skin) Target Groups Anyone who comes in contact with an infected animal or person is at high risk of contacting the disease. However, some people seem to have natural defenses in their immune system that allow their bodies to kill the virus. Scientists do not know exactly how this occurs.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Target Organs and Damage Methods Target mainly small capillary vessels. Attach to walls, cause leakage of blood and serum into surrounding tissue. When white blood cells attack the virus, they dissolve this releases a chemical into the blood stream that signals the release of other chemicals (pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro-coagulants, and anticoagulants) These injure blood vessels even worse, resulting in permanent bleeding. Eventually, the entire body is leaking and dissolving

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Incubation Period: Anywhere from 2-21 days Symptoms:
Severe headache Weakness Muscle aches

As it progresses:
Severe vomiting Abdominal pain Diarrhea Pharyngitis Conjunctivitis External bleeding Extremely high body temperature Prostration

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Fatality Rates: Ebola-Sudan 60% Ebola-Zaire 77-88% Ebola-Reston Found in monkeys, has not shown to be fatal in humans Ebola-Cote DIvoire Only one human case recorded, patient survived
MASS GRAVES FOR EBOLA VICTIMS

Not much is known about the bodys response because of the dangers of handling samples from infected patients and the short time span available for investigation.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Diagnosis and Identification Clinical Diagnosis: -Difficult because early symptoms (red eye, skin rash) are nonspecific to virus. -Takes a combination of many symptoms characteristic of Ebola. Laboratory Testing/Diagnosis: -Antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) -IgM ELISA test -Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) a DNA test to match the DNA from the sample to known Ebola DNA -All done within a few days of onset of symptoms

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Diagnosis Continued Advanced Stage Testing: -Test for IgM and IgG anitbodies Retrospective Testing: -Immunohistochemistry testing -Virus isolation -PCR (Occur after death) Culture Only grows in cells

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

THERE IS NO CURE FOR EBOLA HF
Care of Infected Persons: -Supportive therapy -Balance fluids and electrolytes

-Maintain oxygen status, BP -Treatment of complicating infections

Experimental Treatment: -In the Kikwit outbreak in DRC, doctors transmitted blood from survivors to sufferers, hoping to transmit whatever antibodies helped them survive. It is unknown whether or not survivors gain immunity from infection. Doctors believe it is possible, but because of the limited ability to test this theory, it remains to be seen.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Prevention Classified as Biosafety level 4 (greatest threat to humans) Extensive precautions taken when dealing with suspected cases to limit transmission Several layers of protective clothing covering entire body (up to four) Complete equipment sterilization Quarantine of Ebola HF patients

Ebola hemorrhagic fever

Future outlook A study released in December of 2003 showed that researchers studying infected monkeys have found a way to increase survival rates 100% of infected monkeys had been dying These were injected with rNAPc2, a factor known to inhibit blood coagulation, a characteristic of Ebola HF 33% of these monkeys survived and regained health. All untreated monkeys died. rNAPc2 is known to be relatively safe in humans this method is being studied further

Sources
Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Special Pathogens Branch: Diseases. Nov. 26, 2003. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 3/19/04 <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages /ebola.htm> Murphy, Frederick A. Ebola Virus. Encarta. CD-ROM. Microsoft, 2002 Russell, Brett. Ebola Information. 3/19/04 <http://www.brettrussell.com/personal/ebola.html> Col. Weeks, Byron, M.D. Ebola A Serious Threat. NewsMax.com. Oct. 17, 2001. 3/19/04 <http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2001/10/12/ 82239.shtml>