What is Ebola and how is the virus transmitted to a person?

In 2014, an outbreak of Ebola fever was registered. This is the largest outbreak that grows into a pandemic. What is Ebola, what symptoms are inherent in it, what threat it poses to the inhabitants of all countries and how to deal with it - these are the questions scientists are trying to solve all over the world.

Ebola virus

This is the disease that causes the RNA-genomic virus. Ebola fever (photos of patients is presented below) refers to the most dangerous haemorrhagic fevers with a high degree of lethality. The causative agent was first discovered in 1976. The name he received from the river in the Republic of Congo, where it was first discovered in the mass outbreak of an unknown disease characterized by a high mortality rate - about 90-95%.

There are 5 varieties of this virus: Zaire, Bundibugyo, Sudan, Tai Forest, Reston. The latter - Reston - is not pathogenic to humans, it affects only pigs and monkeys. The first of these - Zaire - triggered the outbreak in 2014. This is the most pathogenic virus. Ebola fever affects the population of African countries in large numbers. But in 2014 cases were recorded in other countries of the world. It was assumed that at the end of 2014 the Ebola virus in Russia could begin its march, but this did not happen.

The main vectors of the virus are wingworms - bats and monkeys, which are common in South and West Africa. They themselves are not sick, but local natives eat meat of these animals and are infected with hemorrhagic fever. And there are fishers and monkeys - this is a religious cult, and weak economic security, poverty and poverty lead to the fact that whole tribes are infected. That's what Ebola is. This virus is very scary.

Causes of rapid spread of the disease

For six months in Liberia from this virus, more than 2 thousand people died. This is due to the inadequate funding and weak medical care of this country. In addition, poverty, illiteracy and religious practices contribute to the spread of the virus: the population refuses to survey, hides the sick and steals them from hospitals. Burial is also a kind of ritual that involves washing the body and shaving off the hair for further use in various rituals. Most often bury bodies near villages and rivers, which leads to infection of other people. What is Ebola they do not know and do not want to know, therefore sanitary norms are not observed, which leads to further spread of the disease.

How do people get infected?

The incubation period of the disease is from 3 days to 3 weeks. Airborne droplets do not have any cases of infection. This disease - Ebola fever - is transmitted through direct contact with the diseased or with their secretions: stool, sweat, breast milk, seminal fluid, blood. In these liquids, virulence persists for 2-7 weeks. The danger increases if there are damages on the skin of the person being contacted. Danger and contact with the deceased from fever: the activity of the virus persists for 1.5 months after the death of the patient. There are data on the infection of people after contact with infected primates, porcupines, forest antelopes.

Changes in the body when introducing a virus

It is established that irreversible processes occur in the body when the Ebola virus is introduced. What kind of disease is it, whether it is possible to help a person - these issues are studied and developed by scientists from all over the world.

During the incubation period, the virus multiplies extensively in regional lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. After a massive seeding of all organs and tissues occurs with direct destruction of the cell virus and a violation of their function, as well as enhanced reactions of autoimmune protection. Primarily, the walls of the vessels suffer and hemorrhagic syndrome manifests , then - swelling and subsequently - DIC-syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation), which leads to hemorrhage in all organs and tissues with a violation of their function.

Signs of the disease

How do the virus, the Ebola fever, the symptoms of this disease manifest itself? Is it possible to suspect a disease in the early stages? What should alert? These issues, due to the large population migration, concern every person who travels the world or contacts various representatives of the African population and not only. It is necessary to know the basic manifestations in order to prevent contact with the sick person and to isolate the patient.

Many people are interested in the question, what is Ebola, what is this disease. This fever begins with a sudden increase in body temperature to high numbers, then the following symptoms appear:

1. At the initial stage, there are pains in the throat and behind the chest; Weakness, myasthenia gravis.
2. The late stage is characterized by the addition of such signs as intense bloody vomiting, diarrhea, black feces, rashes all over the body, eye bleeding.
3. At the final stage, the symptoms of multiple organ failure and massive hemorrhages from all organs join with the appearance of large bruising, drainage exanthema even with a slight pressure on the skin.

So the Ebola fever manifests itself. Photo of the diseased is simply shocking.

Death comes from hemorrhagic, infectious-toxic shock, hypovolemia and multi-organ failure in the second week of the disease. It should be noted that the susceptibility to the disease in a person is high, after recovery, a stable immunity to this subtype is formed for 10 years.

Laboratory diagnostics

It is established that irreversible processes occur in the body when the Ebola virus is introduced. What kind of disease is it, whether it is possible to help a person - these issues are studied and developed by scientists from all over the world.

During the incubation period , the virus multiplies rapidly in regional lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. After a massive seeding of all organs and tissues occurs with direct destruction of the cell virus and a violation of their function, as well as enhanced reactions of autoimmune protection. Primarily, the walls of the vessels suffer, hemorrhagic syndrome manifests , then - swelling, and subsequently - DIC-syndrome (disseminated intravascular coagulation), which leads to hemorrhage in all organs and tissues with a violation of their function.

Than to treat

It is necessary to isolate patients in special boxes of the infectious disease department or into disposable plastic boxes. The treatment is performed with iodoform and a phenol solution with sodium hydrogen carbonate. All household items should be disposable, which are subsequently disinfected and burned at high temperature.

Care of patients is carried out in an antiplague suit. Treatment of the disease is purely symptomatic. It is aimed at compensating the liquid by drinking a lot of water, tea, soups, but not alcohol. It is necessary to cancel the reception of funds that dilute the blood: "Aspirin", "Diclofenac", "Ibuprofen," and others.

A vaccine for the therapy of this disease is under development and has not yet passed all clinical trials. In Russia, three types of vaccine are being prepared, which are tested on primates. A few months later, according to Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Olga Golodets, vaccines can be used to treat people.

Preventive measures

To prevent infection, it is advisable to refrain from traveling to West Africa, especially in epidemic-prone areas. If this is not possible, then you must follow the rules of personal hygiene: wash your hands under running water with soap or handle with alcohol. It is necessary to exclude or minimize contacts with the local population and try not to touch the biological fluids of infected people.

Meat of wild animals should be well boiled, using only imported water. A walk on the hunt should be in protective clothing and gloves.

When caring for patients and when working with dead bodies, special clothes are required: a robe with long sleeves, gloves, a mask, boots to prevent blood or body fluids from getting on the body.

Deaths from this infection must be quickly and safely buried by burning. It is important to have a clear distinction between sick and healthy, which is almost impossible in the wild tribes. Those persons who care for the sick, after the termination of work should be under supervision not less than 21 days. Suspicious and contact are isolated in special boxes, observed for the same time and immunized with a specific immunoglobulin obtained from the serum of horses.