As of Sept. 14, the total count was 5,347 cases with a total death count of 2,630 and a fatality rate of close to 50 percent. In the last month the number has doubled. Sierra Leone and Guinea are the most effected with largest number of cases. Risk of this in U.S. is very low even though two cases have been found in the health care workers.

Predictive models have varied as researchers struggle to estimate an outbreak on a size and scale never seen before with Ebola. A separate worst-case scenario modeled last month by researchers at the University of Tokyo and Arizona State University predicted that there would be as many as 277,124 new cases by the year’s end.

Background

Ebola virus causes acute, serious illness, which is often fatal if untreated. EVD first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks, one in Sudan and the other one in Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.

The current outbreak in West Africa, with the first case registered in March, is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. 

Transmission

It is thought that fruit bats are the natural Ebola virus hosts. Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs and other bodily fluids of infected animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelopes and porcupines found ill or dead in the rainforest. Some of the above, like fruit bats, are prevalent in these countries and found inside homes. It can spread through human to human via contact with body secretions, materials like bedding and clothing and contaminated fluids.

Health care workers have frequently been infected while treating patients with suspected or confirmed EVD, especially when precautions are not strictly followed. It is not transmitted by air.

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms of EVD are fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash and impaired of kidney and liver function as well as internal and external bleeding, like oozing from gums or blood in the stool. Bleeding from mucus membranes can start within 5 days of contracting the infection. Average time between contact and appearance of symptoms is 8-10 days but could vary from 2-21 days.

Diagnosis and treatment

There are many tests that can be performed to test for Ebola virus, but many of these may not be available where needed most. There is no proven treatment or licensed vaccine available so far. A vaccine is in process of being tested. Treatment is supportive care and rehydration done with both oral and intravenous fluid.

Prevention

Prevention is in reducing the wildlife-to-human transmission by avoiding infected animals and consumption of their meats. Protective gloves, clothing and thoroughly cooking meat before consumption is a very important element in prevention.

Reducing risk of human to human transmission is possible by using gloves and frequent handwashing while handling people with Ebola symptoms. Outbreak containment measures including prompt and safe burial of the dead, identifying people who may have been in contact with Ebola and monitoring health contact for 21 days. The importance of separating the sick from healthy to prevent the spread, the importance of good hygiene and maintaining a clean environment are also very important.

Conclusion

EVD is an epidemic with potential to spread to rest of the world. The epidemic is spreading fast in West Africa. There is a world-wide effort to find a vaccine and contain the disease by mobilizing resources needed to accomplish this task.