Ebola virus disease: from epidemiology to prophylaxis

Abstract

The outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) continues to spread through West Africa. Since the first report of EVD in March 2014, the number of cases has increased rapidly, with the fatality rate of >50%. The most prevalent Ebola virus belongs to the species of Zaire ebolavirus, with a fatality rate as high as 90%. Although there were cases introduced into other continents, Africa is the endemic area where fruit bats and apes are suspected to be Ebola virus carriers. The virus might be transmitted from the host animals to humans if humans consume raw or not fully cooked and contaminated meats. However, human-to-human transmission via close contact is the major route of current outbreaks. EVD can occur during any season and affect people of any race and age group. Direct contact with body fluids of EVD patients or living in contaminated environments greatly increases the risk of being infected. Transmission via aerosol less likely, but transmission via virus-containing droplets is possible in humans. Thus, health care providers are facing danger of getting Ebola virus infection. To date, vaccines, drugs and/or therapies to prevent Ebola virus infection or treat EVD are limited. Medical workers should follow the current standard prophylactic procedures. The military can orchestrate efficient care to mass EVD patients. Although it is necessary to speed up the pace of developing effective vaccine and therapeutics for the prevention and treatment of EVD, public health prevention and management should be important issue at present to control the spread of this disease cost-effectively.

Molecular detection of viruses in Kenyan bats and discovery of novel astroviruses, caliciviruses and rotaviruses

“…Numerous viruses which in several cases occur asymptomatically in bats have been found to be of public health and veterinary health concern (Calisher et al, 2006). In several cases such as SARS-CoV, Ebola virus and Nipah virus, spillover events have resulted in disease cases in both livestock and humans (Chua et al, 2000;Liu et al, 2015;Zhong et al, 2003). Spillover from bats to humans has been shown to be direct (Van Thiel et al, 2009) or in some cases linked to availability of intermediate hosts (Wang et al, 2005).…”

Knowledge, Attitudes and Preventive Practices on Ebola Virus Disease in the Kintampo Districts of Ghana

“…There were however uncertainties about body fluids' role in EVD transmission. The levels of ignorance are quite worrying, as direct contact with body fluids of EVD patients or living in contaminated environments greatly increases the risk of being infected [19]. Knowledge of urine and faeces as modes of transmission was low, especially as disposal is poor and individuals easily come into contact with such waste.…”

Strategy and technology to prevent hospital-acquired infections: Lessons from SARS, Ebola, and MERS in Asia and West Africa

“…Data from 66 hospitals in 23 countries show that the prevalence rate of HAIs is 7.1% in Europe, and this number is doubled or more in developing countries, such as Uganda [1,2]. Furthermore, HAIs are partly responsible for the repeated outbreaks of several fatal infectious diseases in Asia and West Africa, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), and Ebola [3,4]. Hospital-borne outbreaks of these diseases reflect the vulnerability of the affected hospitals in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) [5].…”