EBOLA VIRUS

 

                             With our first article in COGNITIO, we had to bring up this organism of nanometer size which is making news for all the wrong reasons – The EBOLA virus.

                                      Taking its origin in Africa, with its very first outbreak dated back to 1976 in Sudan and Zaire where this notorious organism is named after the Ebola river in Zaire, has an incredible power to take over its host as they first disarm the immune system and later dismantle the vascular system.

                                      It belongs to the family - Filoviridae, with its natural host being the fruit bats ( Hypsignattum monstrosus, Epomops franqueti, Myonycteris torquata). Non infectious primates (Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Monkeys, forest Antelopes, Porcupines) via their blood, secretions, bodily fluids act as a source of infection to man where they themselves are accidental hosts. Human to human transmission is via direct contact (broken skin, mucous membrane), blood, other bodily secretions

                                     Very little is known about this RNA virus which makes 7 proteins that hijack the host machinery and defeats its immune response by cleverly binding to the dendritic cells perhaps rendering  them incapable to express the antigen on their surface….voila this virus goes unrecognized by our immune system. Adding to our dismay its protein VP24 binds and blocks a transport protein on the surface of immune cells that plays a important role in interferon pathway.

                                    Infected persons after 2 to 21 days of exposure usually show up with sudden onset fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, internal  or external bleeding due to fall in platelets and haemorrhage ,secondary infections due to fall in W.B.C counts . profound consequences destroying the cells that produce coagulation proteins in liver , destruction of steroids produced by adrenals…? Leading to failure in regulation of blood pressure

and causes circulatory failure, shock, multiple organ failure ultimately death.

 

Ebola in India?

Contrary to popular forwards on chatting apps,

there is no official confirmation on Ebola virus

actually being found in India. The news about it

being found in Mumbai & Karnataka have been 

confirmed as hoax.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Is Ebola Treated?

There’s no cure for Ebola, though researchers are working on it. Treatment includes an experimental serum that destroys infected cells.

Doctors manage the symptoms of Ebola with:

• Fluids and electrolytes

• Oxygen

• Blood pressure medication

• Blood transfusions

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• How Can You Prevent Ebola?

There’s no vaccine to prevent Ebola. The best way to avoid catching the disease is by not traveling to areas where the virus is found.

Health care workers can prevent infection by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles whenever they come into contact with people who may have Ebola.