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Ebola

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Ebola is a very serious disease caused by a virus.

Ebola virus virion
Ebola virus virion

It is known as Ebola virus disease or Ebola hemorrhagic fever. This sickness affects humans and several types of primates. Scientists believe fruit bats are the natural host for these viruses. A host is an animal that carries a germ without getting sick itself.

EbolaCycle
EbolaCycle

The virus can spread from animals to humans through direct contact. This might happen when people handle bushmeat, which is meat from wild animals. It can also spread between people through contact with infected body fluids.

Bushmeat - Buschfleisch Ghana
Bushmeat - Buschfleisch Ghana

When the virus enters a person, it starts a specific way it works. The virus attaches to certain parts on the surface of a cell.

Ebola Pathenogensis path
Ebola Pathenogensis path

After it attaches, the virus merges with the cell membrane. It then releases its genetic material, called RNA, into the cell. The cell is forced to make many new copies of the virus. These new virus particles eventually bud off from the cell to infect others. This cycle repeats and makes the person feel very ill.

Symptoms usually appear between two and three weeks after infection.

Symptoms of ebola
Symptoms of ebola

Most people first feel fatigue, fever, and muscle pain. They may also have a sore throat or a headache. Later, they might experience vomiting, diarrhea, or a red skin rash. In about half of all cases, people may experience bleeding. This bleeding can happen inside the body or outside through the skin. Some people may even cough up blood or see it in their stool.

History shows that Ebola has caused outbreaks in Sub-Sahara Africa since 1976.

Ebolafälle bis einschließlich 2020 english
Ebolafälle bis einschließlich 2020 english

The largest outbreak was the 2014 Western African epidemic. There are four main viruses that cause the disease in humans. These are the Bundibugyo, Sudan, Taï Forest, and Ebola viruses. The Ebola virus, or Zaire ebolavirus, is the most dangerous type. It is responsible for the largest number of outbreaks recorded. Death often occurs between six and 16 days after the first symptoms appear.

Doctors have found ways to help people fight this hard job.

Ebola outbreak in Gulu Municipal Hospital
Ebola outbreak in Gulu Municipal Hospital

They use treatments like Inmazeb to help improve outcomes. In Uganda, doctors use oral rehydration therapy to help patients. This involves drinking water that is slightly salty and sweet. An Ebola vaccine was also approved in December 2019. To stay safe, people should wash their hands often. It is also important to wear protective clothing when near patients.

Proper burial of the dead also helps stop the virus from spreading.

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🖼️ Images & Media (15)
File:Symptoms of ebola.png
Symptoms of ebola.png
File:Ebola virus virion.jpg
Ebola virus virion.jpg
File:EbolaCycle.png
EbolaCycle.png
File:Bushmeat - Buschfleisch Ghana.JPG
Bushmeat - Buschfleisch Ghana.JPG
File:Ebola illustration- safe burial (15573264517).jpg
Ebola illustration- safe burial (15573264517).jpg
File:Ebola Pathenogensis path.svg
Ebola Pathenogensis path.svg
File:VHFisolation.png
VHFisolation.png
File:Donna Wood, Nurse and NHS Ebola volunteer (15652582937).jpg
Donna Wood, Nurse and NHS Ebola volunteer...
File:Ebola outbreak in Gulu Municipal Hospital.jpg
Ebola outbreak in Gulu Municipal Hospital.jpg
File:Cotton Factory in Nzara, South Sudan.jpg
Cotton Factory in Nzara, South Sudan.jpg
File:CDC worker incinerates med-waste from Ebola patients in Zaire.jpg
CDC worker incinerates med-waste from...
File:Ebolafälle bis einschließlich 2020 english.png
Ebolafälle bis einschließlich 2020 english.png

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