What is Ebola and how is the virus transmitted to humans?
In 2014, a fever outbreak was registeredEbola. This is the largest outbreak that grows into a pandemic. What is Ebola, what symptoms are inherent in it, what threat it poses to the inhabitants of all countries and how to deal with it - these are the questions scientists are trying to solve all over the world.
Ebola virus
This is the disease that causes the RNA-genomic virus. Ebola fever (photos of patients is presented below) refers to the most dangerous hemorrhagic fevers with a high degree of lethality. The causative agent was first discovered in 1976. The name he received from the river in the Republic of Congo, where it was first detected in a mass outbreak of an unknown disease characterized by a high mortality rate - about 90-95%.
There are 5 varieties of this virus: Zaire, Bundibugjo, Sudan, Tai Forest, Reston. The last - Reston - is not pathogenic to humans, it affects only pigs and monkeys. The first of these - Zaire - triggered the outbreak in 2014. This is the most pathogenic virus. Ebola fever affects the population of African countries in large numbers. But in 2014 cases were registered in other countries of the world. It was assumed that at the end of 2014 the Ebola virus in Russia could begin its march, but this did not happen.
The main vectors of the virus are wingworms -Bats and monkeys that are common in South and West Africa. They themselves are not sick, but local natives eat meat of these animals and are infected with hemorrhagic fever. And there are fishers and monkeys - this is a religious cult, and weak economic security, poverty and poverty lead to the fact that whole tribes are infected. That's what Ebola is. This virus is very scary.
Causes of rapid spread of the disease
For six months in Liberia, this virus has killed more2 thousand people. This is due to the inadequate funding and weak medical care of this country. In addition, poverty, illiteracy and religious practices contribute to the spread of the virus: the population refuses to survey, hides the sick and steals them from hospitals. Burial is also a kind of ritual that involves washing the body and shaving off the hair for further use in various rituals. Most often bury bodies near villages and rivers, which leads to infection of other people. What is Ebola they do not know and do not want to know, so the sanitary norms are not respected, which leads to further spread of the disease.
How do people get infected?
The incubation period of the disease is from 3 days tothree weeks. Airborne droplets do not have any cases of infection. This disease - Ebola fever - is transmitted through direct contact with the diseased or with their secretions: stool, sweat, breast milk, seminal fluid, blood. In these liquids, virulence persists for 2-7 weeks. The danger increases if there are damages on the skin of the person being contacted. Danger and contact with the deceased from fever: the activity of the virus persists for 1.5 months after the death of the patient. There are data on the infection of people after contact with infected primates, porcupines, forest antelope.
Changes in the body when introducing a virus
It is established that irreversible processes occur in the body when the Ebola virus is introduced. What kind of disease is it, whether it is possible to help a person - these issues are studied and developed by scientists all over the world.
During the incubation period, the virus multiplies extensivelyin the regional lymph nodes, liver, spleen. After a massive seeding of all organs and tissues occurs with direct destruction of the cell virus and a violation of their function, as well as enhanced reactions of autoimmune protection. Primarily, the walls of the vessels suffer and hemorrhagic syndrome manifests, then - swelling and subsequently - DIC-syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation), which leads to hemorrhage in all organs and tissues with a violation of their function.
Signs of the disease
How the virus manifests itself, Ebola's fever,symptoms of this disease? Can I suspect a disease in the early stages? What should alert? These issues, due to the large population migration, concern every person who travels the world or contacts various representatives of the African population and not only. It is necessary to know the basic manifestations in order to prevent contact with the sick person and to isolate the patient.
Many people are interested in the question, what is Ebola, what is this disease. This fever begins with a sudden increase in body temperature to high numbers, then the following symptoms appear:
- At the initial stage, there are pains in the throat and behind the chest; weakness, myasthenia gravis.
- The late stage is characterized by the addition of such signs as intense bloody vomiting, diarrhea, black feces, rashes all over the body, eye bleeding.
- At the final stage symptoms are attachedpolyorganic insufficiency and massive bleeding from all organs with the appearance of large bruises, drainage exanthema even with a slight pressure on the skin.
So the Ebola fever manifests itself. The photos of the diseased are simply shocking.
Laboratory diagnostics
It is established that irreversible processes occur in the body when the Ebola virus is introduced. What kind of disease is it, whether it is possible to help a person - these issues are studied and developed by scientists all over the world.
During the incubation period, intensivereproduction of the virus in regional lymph nodes, liver, spleen. After a massive seeding of all organs and tissues occurs with direct destruction of the cell virus and a violation of their function, as well as enhanced reactions of autoimmune protection. Primarily, the walls of the vessels suffer, hemorrhagic syndrome manifests, then - swelling, and subsequently - DIC-syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation), which leads to hemorrhage in all organs and tissues with a violation of their function.
Than to treat
Isolation of patients in special boxes is necessaryinfection compartment or in disposable plastic boxes. The treatment is carried out with iodoform and a solution of phenol with sodium hydrogencarbonate. All household items should be disposable, which are subsequently disinfected and burned at high temperature.
Care of patients is carried out in anti-plaguesuit. Treatment of the disease is purely symptomatic. It is aimed at compensating the liquid by drinking a lot of water, tea, soups, but not alcohol. It is necessary to cancel the reception of funds that dilute blood: "Aspirin", "Diclofenac", "Ibuprofen," and others.
A vaccine for the therapy of this disease is locatedat the stage of development and has not yet passed all clinical trials. In Russia, three types of vaccine are being prepared, which are tested on primates. A few months later, according to Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Olga Golodets, vaccines can be used to treat people.
Preventive measures
To prevent infection, it is desirablerefrain from traveling to West Africa, especially in epidemically disadvantaged areas. If this is not possible, then it is necessary to observe the rules of personal hygiene: wash your hands under running water with soap or handle with alcohol. It is necessary to exclude or minimize contact with the local population and try not to touch the biological fluids of infected people.
Meat of wild animals should be well boiled, using only imported water. A walk on the hunt should be in protective clothing and gloves.
When caring for patients and when working with corpsesdeceased require special clothing: a robe with long sleeves, gloves, a mask, boots to prevent the ingress of blood or body fluids onto the body.
Deaths from this infection need fast andsafely bury by burning. It is important to have a clear distinction between sick and healthy, which is almost impossible in the wild tribes. Those persons who care for the sick, after the termination of work should be under supervision not less than 21 days. Suspicious and contact are isolated in special boxes, observed for the same time and immunized with a specific immunoglobulin obtained from the serum of horses.
