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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
Clinical progression of EVD includes two broad stages such as early and late infection [75]. In the first stage, ~5–7 days, symptoms include fever, weakness, headache, muscle/joint pain, diarrhea, and nausea [24,75]. In some patients, the disease progresses to a second stage, with symptoms including hemorrhaging, neurological symptoms, tachypnea, hiccups, and anuria [21,75]. Mortality rates are higher among those exhibiting second-stage symptoms [21,75]. EVD is transmitted through a direct contact with an infected individual [38]. Transmission risk factors include contact with bodily fluids, close contact with a patient, needle reuse, and contact with cadavers, often prepared for burial by the family of the deceased [38,40,85]. Once an individual is infected by Ebola virus, his or her chances of recovery can be increased through pharmaceutical interventions that consist of providing intravenous fluid and balancing electrolytes, maintaining oxygen status and blood pressure, and treating other infections if they occur [27].
Animal Connection Challenges
Published in Michael Hehenberger, Zhi Xia, Huanming Yang, Our Animal Connection, 2020
Michael Hehenberger, Zhi Xia, Huanming Yang
Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans. Here are some facts as communicated by WHO378: The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (fruit bats) and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission through body fluids.The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in West Africa (2014) has involved major urban as well as rural areas.Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, infection prevention and control practices, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe and dignified burials and social mobilization.
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.