What is Ebola?

Context-

Researchers recently developed the first nanobody-based inhibitors targeting the Ebola virus.

What is Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)?

• About:
  • EVD, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever is a deadly disease with occasional outbreaks that occur mostly on the African continent.
  • Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • It most commonly affects people and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees).
  • It is caused by an infection with a group of viruses within the genus Ebolavirus:
    • Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus)
    • Sudan virus (species Sudan ebolavirus)
    • Taï Forest virus (species Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus)
    • Bundibugyo virus (species Bundibugyo ebolavirus)
    • Reston virus (species Reston ebolavirus)
    • Bombali virus (species Bombali ebolavirus)

• It gets its name from the Ebola River, which is near one of the villages in the Democratic Republic of Congo where the disease first appeared.
• Ebola can occur in humans and other primates (gorillas, monkeys, and chimpanzees).
• Transmission:
  • It is thought that fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts.
  • Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, or porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest.
  • Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with the body fluids of an infected sick or dead person.
• Ebola Symptoms:
  • Symptoms of Ebola can start two to 21 days after being infected by the virus.
  • It includes fever, diarrhea, vomiting, bleeding, and often, death.
• The average Ebola case fatality rate is around 50%.
• Treatment:
  • There is no known cure for Ebola. Experimental treatments have been used, but none have been fully tested to see if they work well and are safe.
    • For example, there are two FDA-approved monoclonal antibody treatments for the Ebola Zaire strain (Inmazeb and Ebanga).
  • Recovery seems to depend in part on how much virus a person was initially exposed to, how early treatment is started, and the patient’s age and immune response. 
  • Current therapy consists of maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance and the administration of blood and plasma to control bleeding.

Key Challenges in Ebola Response:

• Delayed Diagnosis and Isolation: Early symptoms can be easily mistaken for other diseases, causing delays in diagnosis and isolation.
• Lack of Infrastructure: In many affected areas, the lack of healthcare infrastructure and trained medical personnel hampers effective response efforts.
• Cultural Practices: Traditional burial rituals, where family members handle the body, can facilitate the spread of the virus.

Lessons Learned from Past Outbreaks:

• Rapid Response: Early detection, quick isolation, and contact tracing are critical to controlling an outbreak.
• Global Collaboration: Cooperation among governments, international agencies, and NGOs is essential for a coordinated response.
• Improved Health Infrastructure: Strengthening healthcare systems in high-risk regions can help prevent future outbreaks.

CBL Practice Questions for Prelims –

Which of the following is the most common fatal outcome in untreated Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) patients?

A) Sepsis
B) Organ failure
C) Septic shock
D) Cardiac arrest

Answer: B) Organ failure

CBL Mains Practice Question –

In the context of the recent Ebola outbreaks, examine the ethical challenges faced by healthcare providers and the international community in managing such health crises.

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