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Modeling the Epidemic Spread and Outbreak of Ebola Virus
Published in Ranjit Kumar Upadhyay, Satteluri R. K. Iyengar, Spatial Dynamics and Pattern Formation in Biological Populations, 2021
Ranjit Kumar Upadhyay, Satteluri R. K. Iyengar
The main source of the Ebola virus is considered to be possibly fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family. It is believed that the virus is transmitted through monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees [59]. The disease is transmitted through a direct contact with an infected person or animal via the skin, the blood, or bodily fluids [25,73]. There is evidence to suggest that the population groups at a higher risk of infection include healthcare workers and relatives who may have come in contact with a patient and people physically involved in the burial process of an infected individual who has died from the disease [73]. It is worth noting that a recovered individual may not actually spread the virus. However, the Ebola virus has been found to remain in the semen for up to 3 months. Therefore, abstinence from sex with a recovered individual is recommended for at least 3 months [25]. Throughout its history, it has been observed that the Ebola virus and its strains cannot naturally transmit through the air, water, or food unlike influenza or diarrheal diseases [59,73]. Furthermore, Ebola virus does not infect individuals during the incubation period that is, 2–21 days [59].
Applied Chemistry and Physics
Published in Robert A. Burke, Applied Chemistry and Physics, 2020
Once human infection has occurred, the Ebola virus can be transmitted from person to person through close contact with a person infected via contact with bodily fluids. Ebola virus spreads by direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people. It is also transmitted by direct contact with surfaces and materials (such as bedding and clothing,) and objects such as needles and syringes contaminated with these fluids. Ebola virus is not spread through the air or by water or in general by food. Ebola virus may be spread by handling wild animals hunted for food and contact with infected bats. There is no evidence that mosquitoes or other insects can transmit Ebola virus. Only mammals, for example, humans, bats, monkeys and apes, have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus.
Emerging Diseases
Published in Gary S. Moore, Kathleen A. Bell, Living with the Earth, 2018
Gary S. Moore, Kathleen A. Bell
The disease: The Ebola virus is usually spread by close personal contact with a person who is symptomatic with the disease. This has most often occurred among hospital workers in Africa where sanitary conditions and infection control were limited and the reuse of hypodermic needles is common. Ebola fever typically starts suddenly 4–16 days after infection with malaise, fever, and flu-like symptoms, which can be followed by rashes, bleeding, and kidney and liver failure. Most patients appear overtly ill, dehydrated, apathetic, and disoriented. The fever associated with Ebola appears to begin with chills, headaches, muscle pain and aches, abdominal pain, sore throat, and chest pain. Generalized bleeding occurs with massive internal hemorrhaging of the internal organs, with bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract, from the skin, and even from injection sites as the clotting ability of the blood is diminished. The Ebola virus produces lesions in the liver, kidney, and spleen with areas of necrosis on the organs and the lymph nodes. The death of the patient usually occurs from shock within 7–16 days and is accompanied by extreme blood loss. The virus is spread through bodily fluids and secretions though not through casual contact.124
Infectious disease control in metapopulations with limited resources
Published in IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 2023
Ceyda Best, Amin Khademi, Burak Ekşioğlu
The literature on containing the Ebola outbreak in West Africa highlights at least three challenges. Geographical aspect: The outbreak started in a remote forest region, the Gueckedou District in Guinea, and spread to Liberia and Sierra Leone affecting thousands of people such that the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the outbreak is a public health risk to other states (Gomes et al., 2014). In contrast to previous Ebola outbreaks, the 2014 outbreak elucidates the important role that mobility of individuals may have in spreading the disease (WHO Ebola Response Team, 2014a). In fact, the geographical factor is mutual among all pandemics. COVID-19 started in Wuhan, China and spread all over the world.Limited resources: The outbreak happened in West Africa where resources are extremely limited. For example, in the three countries most affected, there are only two doctors available per 100,000 people. Although the efforts of global communities helped overcome some of these challenges, these regions still suffer from limited resource coverage (Chan, 2014).Incurable infection: There are several examples of emerging and reemerging epidemics (such as Ebola in 2014) for which no treatment or vaccination is available. Containing such epidemics includes reducing the transmission rates via quarantining infected individuals in treatment units (Meltzer et al., 2014).
Temporal shifts in Americans’ risk perceptions of the Zika outbreak
Published in Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, 2020
Branden B. Johnson, Marcus Mayorga
Ebola virus transmission was identified decades ago, but came to the world’s attention with the 2014–2015 outbreak in west Africa, particularly in Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Ebola was highly lethal, transmitted by direct human contact with bodily fluids (e.g., blood, saliva, semen) when the infected person was symptomatic, and spread rapidly given local burial practices, slow publicity about its transmission routes, and limited local public health resources. Quarantines of 21 d for the infected were deemed effective at preventing transmission, although questions have been raised about this assumption (e.g., Haas 2014) and its effect on risk communication if found to be wrong (Johnson and Slovic 2015). Ultimately thousands died in West Africa.
Next generation sequencing for pandemic preparedness
Published in Indian Chemical Engineer, 2020
Recurrent waves of epidemics and localised infections also indicate that Pandemic preparedness should be integrated with the health policy framework. In recent times, virus outbreaks like H1N1, MERS-CoV and Ebola have caused significant global concern with significant fatalities in large swathes of populations. 2009, a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus emerged, designated as influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus. Globally, 80% of (H1N1)pdm09 virus-related deaths were estimated to have occurred in people younger than 65 years of age. Although, WHO declared an end to the global 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in August 2010, (H1N1)pdm09 virus continues to circulate as a seasonal flu virus, and cause illness, hospitalization and deaths worldwide every year (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic-resources/2009-h1n1-pandemic.html) [3].Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus with approx. 35% mortality of reported patients with MERS-CoV infection (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/middle-east-respiratory-syndrome-coronavirus-(mers-cov)) [4].Ebola Virus Disease (EBD) is caused by Ebola virus with average fatality of ∼50%. The incubation period, i.e. the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms, is from 2 to 21 days. This is an important aspect wherein timely detection, planning and response would be important (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/ebola-virus-disease) [5].