Ebola virus: the mode of transmission. Ebola: the main symptoms

Over the entire period of its existence, mankind has been on the verge of extinction more than once. The fragile health of homo sapiens was regularly exposed to various factors capable of erasing the human race from the face of the earth once and for all.

Through thorns - to evolution

The deadly plague, smallpox, human immunodeficiency virus (AIDS), cholera and other misfortunes ruthlessly mowed people from century to century. In addition, natural disasters such as tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, tried diligently if not to destroy, at least to reduce the number of people. However, mankind has steadily balanced on the verge of life and death, successfully overcoming all the obstacles that stand in the way of its development.

Tiny human settlements gradually turned into megacities, space shuttles flew into space, Americans stayed on the moon, and scientists invented a huge number of drugs from virtually all diseases. In addition, a special place in medicine is occupied by vaccines that can recreate antibodies to human diseases such as measles, toxoplasmosis, rubella, influenza and so on.

Test of endurance

It would seem: people have found the key to health and defeated insidious viruses. But it was not there! There was a new deadly danger, whose name is Ebola's fever. What is this: a mutated virus, the development of a new biological weapon, an uninvited guest from space? Or maybe this mother nature takes revenge on humanity for the cut down forests, polluted air and mercilessly exterminated animals?

This article will tell you everything that is known about the Ebola virus: the ways of transmission, the symptoms, the course of the disease, the options for vaccination and treatment.

New danger

The first deadly disease "lit up" in 1976, in Africa. Ebola is a haemorrhagic fever, the most dangerous virus against which there are no reliable vaccines or healing medicines. In the case of a disease, the probability of a lethal outcome is 25 to 75 percent, and in the presence of the Ebola virus, transmission of the infection occurs rather quickly.
A new attack at the time of its first appearance killed 128 people in just a few weeks. The epidemic was stopped with the help of the most severe quarantine.
Since that time, the virus has been appearing periodically, but the foci of the disease have quickly been suppressed by a proven method of strict isolation of patients, eliminating any method of Ebola transmission.

Deadly threat

The largest in the history of mankind, the outbreak of epidemics of the Ebol fever broke out in autumn 2014 in three settlements in Africa: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. In just four months, the virus killed 5,000 people, approximately as many as infected, but miraculously survived.

Scientists around the world are studying the killer virus from all angles, but for the time being only the method of transferring Ebola is known for certain. And this is quite an important discovery, thanks to which it is possible, if not to heal from a fever, then at least to minimize its "journey" across the entire planet. After all, the worst thing about the Ebola virus is transmission and spontaneous spread of the infection. Quarantine is the only correct action to prevent the spread of infection. Such a measure will stop such a terrible disease as Ebola fever. The methods of transmission can be prevented only if the site of infection is isolated.

All the fault of the mouse

Transmission of the Ebola virus Occurs when in contact with the mucous membranes or fluids of an infected person or animal. The originators of this virus are bats-bats, other animals (for example, monkeys and wild-type creatures) become infected by contact with their saliva and feces.

Uninvited guest

The mechanism of Ebola transmission from animals to humans is triggered by direct human contact with the products of the excretory system (blood, mucus, lymph and urine) of the infected animal. Moreover, this concerns not only living fauna species, but also those who died due to Ebola fever (the transmission routes remain even after the death of the animal even if the process of decomposition has begun).

The virus freely penetrates the human body, the disease develops from 14 to 21 days, depending on the weakened immunity.
Another way to transfer Ebola - eating meat of an infected animal, especially if the meat is raw.

Features of the virus

When studying the virus under a microscope, it turned out that it looks like long, thick threads, which first copy and multiply each other, and then, as it were, bind all the vital organs of the infected person. After this, the next step is taken by the Ebola virus. Transmission routes are blood vessels and the lymphatic system. Further development of infection occurs in cells that produce protein. The virus occupies the production of viral proteins, which in turn infect all other cells. Thus, the number of infected cells grows exponentially.

Chain reaction

It would seem that Africa is very far away. Why does the World Health Organization sound alarm? What is so dangerous for the whole world Ebola fever? Transmission of infection can be from person to person, which means that in this way it can spread all over the planet. In the absence of an effective vaccine and effective treatment, transmission of the Ebola virus On the chain "infected animal-human-human" threatens a global biological catastrophe, until the complete disappearance of humanity!

Experts of the World Health Organization give disappointing predictions about possible epidemics, given the fact that the Ebola fever is contagious. The methods of transmission are so vast and variable that, according to statistics, one sick person can infect two healthy ones.

In a drop of liquid - death

Fortunately, the infection is not transmitted by airborne droplets, but this does not detract from the danger. The method of transferring Ebola from an infected person to a healthy person is due to direct close contact with the biological fluids of the infected person. In a drop of blood, urine, lymph, breast milk and semen, the patient lives death.

But this is not all that the Ebola virus is capable of: the ways of transmission of infection are not limited to contact with the above-described secretions of the human body. It is transmitted through sweating, mucous, saliva and the secret of the genitals. At the same time, the probability of contracting this infection threatens everyone who touched the subjects with which the person fell ill with a fever.

It is also extremely dangerous that a person remains a carrier of the infection as long as his body contains viruses. It is important to know that the sperm of a man continues to contain the virus for another 50 days after recovery, so to avoid infection of a healthy person with the Ebola virus, the transmission of which can be realized through sexual intercourse, doctors strongly recommend the recovered one to refrain from any sexual relations for several months.

Instincts of self-preservation

To avoid infection, and also to avoid catching the Ebola virus, transmission routes should be kept to a minimum: people are highly advised not to visit countries where epidemic outbreaks are located. In addition, in no case can not be contacted with people who carry this infection.
Ebola fever, the transmission of which is carried out in almost any way, except for airborne, is dangerous for a resident of any country.

Course of the disease

The special insidiousness of this virus lies in the fact that the disease can not be calculated instantly, since the symptoms of the initial stage are very similar to ARI or ARVI. How's it going?

1. At the initial stage of the disease, the temperature rises, the head hurts, the person feels malaise, weakness in the muscles and a sore throat. All this is like a classic sore throat or flu.
2. Gradually the disease progresses, nausea and vomiting begin, diarrhea, the skin becomes covered with a rash, the liver and kidneys do not cope with their functions, the virus gradually "turns off" the immune system of the body, thereby preventing it from fighting a destructive infection.
3. Apotheosis of the disease is the hemorrhagic syndrome: the patient begins to bleed lips, gums, eyes, skin, ears. In addition, bleeding develops in internal organs.
4. Death occurs 8-14 days after the onset of the disease. The cause of death is irreparable dehydration and rapid increase in blood pressure.

Survival test

If you suspect a disease with Ebola fever, the transmission route of which has a wide range of actions, it is highly recommended to see a doctor who is required to perform a series of tests to disprove or confirm the presence of infection in the body.

To date, the most reliable way to detect Ebol fever is a test for the polymerase chain reaction, as a result of which specialists calculate the genome of the virus. With the help of this test, you can find the disease at the earliest stage and try to stop its development.

Memo for health workers

Medical workers should be reminded about careful handling of samples of biological fluids taken from patients with suspicion of the Ebola virus: the ways of transferring "infected samples - an unprotected health worker" in a bundle are as dangerous as direct contact with the patient. An example is that at the time of this writing, 10 doctors died in Africa.

It is very important for medical personnel to observe such precautions as:

• Washing and hand treatment with disinfectant solution;
• Wearing a medical antiviral mask and special protective clothing;
• Use of personal protective equipment.

Treatment for "maybe"

As mentioned above, there is no guaranteed treatment and licensed vaccine for Ebola haemorrhagic fever as of December 2014. However, more recently in the United States, a newly invented vaccine was tested on 20 volunteers, whose action is to develop antibodies capable of resisting the virus.

The main treatment consists of maintenance therapy:

• Intravenous infusions of electrolyte solutions to prevent dehydration;
• Disinfection of the body;
• Support breathing and ventilation of the lungs.

Thanks to these manipulations, it is possible to reduce the overall mortality by 10%, but it is not possible to heal all the diseased.

Unreasonable fears

The population of the planet is extremely concerned about the possibility of outbreaks of the epidemic in all corners of the globe.
In addition, many are afraid that, like any virus, Ebola can evolve into an even more dangerous form, as a result of which it will be transmitted by airborne droplets. Scientists claim that there are no prerequisites for the virus suddenly to move through the air.

Investing in the future of mankind

To develop a vaccine and a medicine for a new threat, huge amounts of money are allocated. In particular, the US financed 1.000.000 dollars, and also attracted about 3000 of the best scientists for the invention of getting rid of the danger looming over mankind. In addition, many countries in the world are helping Africa in every way to fight the Ebola virus. Experts are convinced that if the Ebola fever is not tamed during the year, it will gradually spread everywhere.

A spoonful of honey in a barrel of Ebola

Despite the colossal danger of the Ebola virus, there are some moments that can bring a touch of peace. They consist in the fact that:

• The virus is not so easily transferred from one living organism to another, therefore, despite the large number of transmission methods, the rate of spread of the virus is very low;
• Such diseases as influenza, measles and AIDS spread much faster than Ebola - and people still inhabit the Earth;
• In civilized countries, the risk of catching an infection is practically reduced to zero;
• To date, the total number of cases is extremely low - only 5,000 people (by the way, up to half a million people die every year from the banal flu);
• In fact, mankind has already faced such a disease and successfully won it: in 2008, the Marburg virus was hosted in Europe - practically the twin brother of Ebola according to the ways of spreading and symptomatology;
• In almost all more or less significant airports are equipped with medical and sanitary points, which monitor the newly arrived passengers.

If we sum up, we can confidently admit that Ebola's fever, the transmission of this disease and the consequences are terrible, but only when elementary sanitary standards are not observed. In civilized countries with a high level of medical care, the probability of an outbreak of the epidemic of the virus is almost zero.
In addition, the vaccine will probably be invented soon, which will protect people from a new threat.
In addition, medical research marches forward with leaps and bounds - and it is likely that in a couple of decades the planet will not have a single sick person, and the Ebola virus will go to oblivion.