Ebola disease “mows” the population of West Africa. The virus has spread to many other countries. He was identified in the UK, USA. World Health Organization recognized fever as a threat to countries around the world. Where did such a deadly disease come from ? What is the danger of Ebola? The incubation period, symptoms, and methods of treating the disease still cause controversy.
What is Ebola?
Surely no one can say where the virus came from and how a person first infected it. But it originated in Africa. They first talked about him back in 1976. Therefore, it is not a new virus. Back in 1976, outbreaks of epidemics were seen in several areas. However, a virus was discovered in Zaire (today - Congo) on the coast of the Ebola River. From here he got his name.
Once in the body, the virus causes a disease, the official name of which is Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Photos of infected people are simply terrifying! The mortality rate reaches almost 90%. And the worst thing is that Ebola victims cannot hope for a life-saving vaccine. It simply does not exist. Even the treatment is in question. After all, there are no official drugs for fever either.
Fever 2014
A new outbreak was recorded in Guinea in December 2013. Infection with high swiftness began to spread to neighboring countries. Ebola patients were recorded in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria. This is the deadliest outbreak in the history of the virus.
Infectious people have already met not only in West Africa. Two American volunteer doctors picked up the virus at the very center of the fever. In the US, this caused a real panic. After all, one patient is enough for the disease to spread rapidly throughout the country.
A new experimental drug was tested on patient doctors with their full consent. The Ebola Cure is a San Diego-based biotechnology company. How the human body will react to this drug, not even the creators knew. After all, all experiments were carried out exclusively on monkeys. When all the signs of Ebola among poor fellow doctors were evident, they were given an experimental drug. An hour later, the symptoms of fever began to decline.
How is Ebola infected?
It is suspected that the “parents” of the virus are the bats (they are also called flying dogs). Carriers can be monkeys (gorillas, monkeys, chimpanzees), porcupines, forest antelopes and other animals.
How is Ebola transmitted to humans? Initially, you can get infected from an animal. The virus is transmitted through excretion and saliva. Thus, if a sick monkey scratches or bites, then the person becomes infected. In addition, hunters cutting animal carcasses are at risk.
How do people not in contact with animals get infected with Ebola? Unfortunately, only one person who has picked up a deadly virus is enough. And then it spreads along the chain. The virus is transmitted through the blood and all body fluids. Thus, even during a kiss, you can get a fatal ailment.
Sometimes people, even those who know how they get infected with Ebola, get sick themselves. Sometimes, not noticing the smallest wound, not visible to the naked eye, they caught the virus. Many cases of decease in Africa are known. After all, even the body of a deceased is contagious. The virus can spread due to contact with objects that were infected by a sick person.
Symptoms of the disease
Having an idea of how Ebola is transmitted, it is possible to recognize the disease in time by characteristic signs.
So, initially the disease develops as a catarrhal disease. At the initial stage, the following signs of Ebola are characteristic:
- headache;
- temperature increase to 39-40 degrees;
- heart palpitations;
- muscle pain;
- dry cough, sore throat;
- chest pain;
- amimic face, sunken eyes.
Further progression of the disease is characterized by new symptoms. She appears on the 2nd or 3rd day:
- vomiting
- pain in the abdomen;
- bloody diarrhea.
On the third, sometimes fourth day, hemorrhagic syndrome is clearly visible. In the whites of the eyes, hemorrhage is observed. The skin, internal organs begin to bleed.
5-7th day presents with a crust-like rash. Visually, it looks like red spots. In this case, the patient does not experience itching. Over time, peeling appears on the site of the rash. The inner side of the thigh and shoulders is most susceptible to damage. Inhibition is observed in patients, confused consciousness. Sometimes the disease manifests itself in the opposite symptom - psychomotor agitation.
On the 8th-9th day, extensive bleeding, an infectious-toxic shock lead to a sharp drop in blood pressure. At this time, death may occur.
If a fatal outcome was avoided, an improvement is observed on the 10-12th day. The patient's temperature normalizes. The patient begins to recover. This process lasts from 2 to 3 months.
Incubation period
It is very important to understand how long the disease can occur. Most sources believe that such an ailment as Ebola, the incubation period has from 2 to 21 days. On average, the interval between the infection process and the onset of the first symptoms varies from 3 to 9 days. As a rule, this time is enough for Ebola to appear in all the ugliness. The incubation period, it should be understood, still lasts up to 21 days. Therefore, an ailment may appear on any of these days.
Risk group
Absolutely no one can boast of protection against a terrible virus. However, there are categories of the population most at risk of infection:
- Doctors who, by virtue of their profession, are forced to treat patients.
- Probably even more at risk are those close to the infected. After all, they have a mission to care for the sick.
- Hunters stand out in a special category.
Diagnosis of ailment
Initially, an epidemiological history is analyzed. In other words, it is established that the patient is in an unfavorable area. The question of possible contact with an infected person is being studied. If such a probability exists, then the diagnosis of Ebola becomes questionable. The incubation period, as noted above, is 21 days. At this time, the patient should be hospitalized.
The following studies are currently underway:
- A thorough study of complaints and medical history. Attention is paid to the time of fever, massive bleeding, watery stools with blood and so on.
- Virological diagnosis. Biological fluids are being investigated. From the blood, human saliva, a virus is secreted and introduced into the body of a laboratory animal. He is being monitored to identify the characteristic development of the infectious process.
- Serological diagnosis. Using antibodies to recognize the causative agent of the virus. In the future, they try to eliminate it.
- Infectionist consultation.
Fever treatment
Ebola patients are required to be hospitalized in special boxes. Only trained personnel are allowed to treat such patients. Unfortunately, a clear program has not been developed to defeat such an ailment as Ebola. Treatment involves the following:
- taking antiviral drugs;
- the introduction of donor immunoglobulins into the body - protective bodies are taken from people or horses who have suffered an illness, and therefore, are immune to the virus.
Therapeutic treatment is reduced to the fight against symptoms:
- bed rest;
- the use of easily digestible, semi-liquid food;
- the introduction of glucose or saline if the patient has severe intoxication and dehydration;
- vitamin therapy (ascorbic acid, B 6 , PP);
- platelet transfusion (donor) to normalize blood coagulation;
- antipyretic drugs;
- hemodialysis - blood purification by the artificial kidney system of toxins that the virus produces;
- antibiotics for the development of bacterial complications.
Is there a cure for Ebola?
This question torments not only the patients themselves. It is set by the broad masses of the people, fearing a possible epidemic. This goal is set by scientists, trying to protect the population in danger. And although today measures to combat such an ailment as Ebola are rather doubtful, treatment is expected to be found in the near future.
Despite the fact that the official vaccine has not yet been registered, many potential drugs have already been invented. A vivid confirmation of this is an experimental medicine that has passed the test of American doctors. Not far behind was the Canadian pharmaceutical corporation, which created a drug that can fight fever.
Russia also did not fade into the background. Near Novosibirsk, test systems capable of diagnosing a dangerous virus are being developed . It is there, at the Vector scientific center, that work is underway to create a unique vaccine for Ebola. Today, a new drug is being tested in animals. However, the center’s employees themselves keep all information secret.
Thus, we hope that very soon a unique vaccine against deadly fever will be presented to the general public.
Prevention and recommendations
The question of protecting the population from a deadly virus is not being raised urgently. Indeed, to date, not a single confirmed case of infection has been recorded in our country. However, for the purpose of prevention, you should familiarize yourself with some recommendations. They will allow you to correctly and timely take all necessary measures so as not to be in the role of a victim of Ebola.
Key recommendations:
- In order to prevent the possibility of contracting a fever, it is better to refuse to visit the countries of West and Central Africa.
- If you need to travel to the above areas, you must use protective masks. Care should be taken to avoid crowded places and, if possible, not to contact the diseased population.
- From the point of view of prevention, the room should be constantly ventilated, wet-cleaned, hygiene rules carefully observed. You should not make purchases in unauthorized places of trade.
- If you suspect an Ebola disease, you should wear a protective mask and immediately seek medical help.
- If, on returning from a trip, symptoms appear that are somewhat reminiscent of Ebola, you need to consult a specialist in a timely manner. The doctor must provide full information about the countries in which they were. Be sure to indicate the date of travel.
Conclusion
More recently, the essence of the Ebola virus was not understood, and the fever itself seemed something very distant: it is raging somewhere in Africa, they will take measures, the disease will be stopped. But the news of a patient from the UK, infected doctors from America made the virus a fairly specific threat.
However, you should not panic. Rospotrebnadzor assures that the Russians are not threatened with an epidemic. However, it is better to refuse trips to the countries of West Africa. But you can go to other countries without fear of bringing a terrible “souvenir”. Indeed, ongoing strict anti-epidemic measures can protect against a deadly virus. But on your return, you should carefully listen to your body. After all, the incubation period of an unpleasant ailment lasts 21 days.