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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.
Common Sense Emergency Response
Published in Robert A. Burke, Common Sense Emergency Response, 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 blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected people. It is also transmitted by direct contact with surfaces and materials (like bedding and clothing) and objects like needles and syringes contaminated with these fluids. Ebola virus is not spread through air or by water or by food. Ebola virus may be spread by handling wild animals hunted for food and contact with infected bats.
Comparison of the performance of aerosol sampling devices with aerosols containing Ebola virus
Published in Aerosol Science and Technology, 2021
Michael A. Schuit, Jill Taylor, Rebecca Dunning, David Miller, Denise Freeburger, Luis Faisca, Victoria Wahl, Paul A. Dabisch
Human-to-human transmission of Ebola virus (EBOV) is thought to occur primarily through direct contact with body fluids of infected patients (Chowell and Nishiura 2014; Mate et al. 2015). While there is little epidemiological evidence that transmission via aerosols contributes to the spread of the virus during outbreaks, some human Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases are documented with no such instances of close contact (Roels et al. 1999). While these cases may simply reflect incomplete case documentation, it is also possible that they reflect a subset of transmission events mediated by small droplets or aerosols. EBOV RNA has been detected in air samples in biocontainment laboratories housing infected non-human-primates (Harbourt et al. 2017), and laboratory animals have become infected with EBOV after being housed in the same facility as infected animals but with no direct contact, suggesting the possibility of aerosol transmission (Jaax et al. 1995; Weingartl et al. 2012). Additionally, laboratory studies have shown that the virus can remain infectious in aerosols for over an hour (Belanov et al. 1996; Piercy et al. 2010; Schuit et al. 2016), and that low doses of aerosolized virus can produce lethal infection in nonhuman primates. While it is unknown if EBOV-containing aerosols can be generated from the respiratory tract of infected patients, certain medical interventions, and even routine actions such as flushing toilets, have the potential to generate virus-containing aerosols that may spread disease from infected to uninfected individuals (Alsved et al. 2020; Davies et al. 2009; Johnson et al. 2013; Judson and Munster 2019). The incomplete epidemiological record, combined with the documented transmission and prolonged survival in aerosols in laboratory settings, suggest that aerosol transmission may be feasible under some circumstances. Furthermore, the high rates of morbidity and mortality associated with human cases of EVD have contributed to concerns that this virus could be used as an agent of bioterrorism, with historical precedents for attempted weaponization of both EBOV and the closely related Marburg virus (MARV) (Alibek 2008; Borio et al. 2002; Cenciarelli et al. 2015). A bioterrorism incident involving EBOV has the potential for infection via inhalation outside of natural transmission pathways.