Fruit Bat
Question: What is Ebola?
Answer: Ebola hemorrhagic fever, also known as Ebola virus disease or EVD, is a disease caused by one of five different Ebola viruses. Four of the strains can cause severe illness in humans and animals. The fifth, Reston virus, has caused illness in some animals, but not in humans.
EVD first appeared in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease received its name.
The most recent outbreak in West Africa, is the largest and by far the most complex Ebola outbreak since the virus was discovered in 1976. The most critically affected countries, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea have weak health systems that lack in both infrastructural and human resources. On August 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General declared this outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Although Ebola is extremely infectious, it is not extremely contagious. It is infectious, because a minute amount can cause a fatal infection.
CNN Health Library writes, "Ebola could be considered moderately contagious, because the virus is not transmitted through the air. Humans can be infected by other humans if they come in contact with body fluids from an infected person or contaminated objects from infected persons. Humans can also be exposed to the virus, for example, by butchering infected animals."
According to WHO, transmission of the Ebola virus is "introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found ill or dead or in the rainforest. Ebola then spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids."
Scientists studying Ebola have long suspected fruit bats as being the natural hosts. The link to humans is often indirect as fruit dropped by infected bats can be picked up by other species therefore spreading the virus to other animals. Humans can then contract the virus through the exposure to infected blood in the killing and preparation of the infected animals.
To people in West Africa, bats are a traditional source of protein and often served in stews. Bats have been referred to as 'venison with wings.' Cooking them is thought to make them safe to eat. WHO advises people to wear protective gloves and clothing while hunting, butchering and handling wildlife. "Animal products (blood and meat) should be thoroughly cooked before consumption."
The World Health Organization has updated the list on key facts about the Ebola virus. You can read more on this at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
Raising awareness of risk factors for Ebola infection and protective measures that individuals can take is an effective way to reduce human transmission. If you'd like to read more on Ebola and ways to protect yourself from the Virus, visit the website of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://www.cdc.gov
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