Ebola virus belongs to a group of deadly virus that causes internal bleeding and organ failure and in severe cases causing death. Ebola together with Marburg virus originate from African countries which can cause sporadic outbreaks from time to time. These viruses choose their host as animals and even humans and the viruses can spread rapidly through contaminated needles and bodily fluids.
Until now, no drug is available to destroy Ebola virus completely. The strain of Ebola virus found recently during the outbreak is the most lethal one when compared with earlier ones. It is termed as “Ebola Zaire” which can kill almost 9 out of 10 people infected, if advanced medical treatment is not given.
Ebola Virus Symptoms
Ebola virus can cause symptoms from 5-10 days of getting the infection. Initially the person affected can develop fever, chills, severe headache and body pain and extreme fatigue. The infected patient can recover fully if he/she has good immunity and gets good medical care soon.
If no treatment is given, the symptoms can get worse causing skin rashes, nausea, and vomiting, severe diarrhea, tightness in the chest, stomach pain and sudden weight loss. In advanced cases it can cause internal bleeding very severely causing profuse bleeding from eyes, nose and ears leading to death.
Ebola Virus Causes
Initially Ebola virus was found in African animals like monkeys and chimpanzees. The mode of transmission of virus can occur in two ways.
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From Animals
When a person gets in contact with infected animals he can get transmitted with Ebola virus. Anyone who eats the products of infected animals can get the virus. Scientists who work on infected animals have chances of getting infected. People who deal with feces and waste products of infected animals can receive infection.
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From Humans
Until the infected person shows any symptom, he/she will not transmit the infection. People become contagious once they start developing symptoms. Doctors and other medical personnel can get infected while dealing with infected patients, if they do not wear protective gears and masks. Ebola virus infection can rapidly spread to others through contaminated needles when the same needle was used for other patients after treating the infected person.