Ebola Another deadly virus on the loose A. The Ebola virus, like MERS-CoV, is a zoonotic (animal-borne) microorganism. It causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF), a very morbid and highly fatal disease of chimpanzees and monkeys that also affects humans. Currently, scientists believe that infection with the Ebola virus of humans, and perhaps, even of primates, is incidental. Rodents are probably its natural reservoir. The Ebola virus was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) in 1976 and was named after a river in that country. Since then, it has caused sporadic human epidemics of Ebola HF that has resulted in scores of deaths in some African countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Sudan, Ivory Coast and Uganda.The ongoing outbreak, which most likely started last December, has killed more than 120 people in West Africa, mostly in Guinea. Five subtypes of the Ebola virus have so far been discovered: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola- Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast, Ebola-Bundibugyo and Ebola-Reston. Of these, only the first four cause Ebola HF. Ebola-Reston results in severe illness and deaths among monkeys, but not in humans.Scientists think that the virus that is responsible for the ongoing outbreak in Guinea is a new strain or subtype, which will bring the number of known strains of the virus to six. The Ebola virus is probably spread by direct contact with humans or animals carrying the virus, direct contact with the blood or secretions of infected persons, or contact with objects (e.g. needles) that have been contaminated with infected secretions. An infected person is highly communicable and can quickly transmit the Ebola virus to others. In humans, Ebola HF is characterized by sudden onset of SEVERE HEADACHE, fever, muscle pains, fatigue, abdominal and chest pain, prostration, profuse diarrhea, vomiting and bleeding into the skin, from the nose and the gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. It is fatal in 30 percent to 90 percent of cases, depending on the strain. There is no known cure for Ebola HF. Patients are simply hospitalized and given supportive care, which may include blood transfusions. The possibility of a deadly strain of the Ebola virus reaching the Philippines exists. But the probability is small considering the light human traffic between the Philippines and the West African countries. Nevertheless, Filipinos should refrain from TRAVELLING to countries where an outbreak is ongoing and our health officials should remain vigilant in preventing the virus from getting into the country. Incidentally, the Ebola-Reston virus, which evidently is harmless to humans, is probably native to our country. It was discovered in 1989 in monkeys imported from the Philippines by the United States and Australia. The virus was again isolated from Philippine monkeys in 1992 and 1998. In all these instances, the virus resulted in illness only among monkeys while sparing humans. Of the at least 25 Filipinos that have been infected with the Ebola-Reston virus by monkeys, only one had flu-like symptoms, the others had been asymptomatic. In 2008 and 2009, the Ebola-Reston virus was detected among pigs and at least five workers in hog farms in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan. However, none of the workers got sick. All indications point to the fact that the Ebola-Reston virus poses very little risks to humans.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 05:28:38 +0000
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