The Ebola Virus Disease in Africa.

Abstract

Ebola virus disease is one of the most deadly human viral diseases in the world, and is caused by the Ebola virus. The symptoms which include (fever, sore throat, muscle pains, headaches, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), begins usually after infection 2 to 21days. The strains include the Zaire, Sudan, Ivory Coast, and Bundibugyo and Reston. The disease is zoonotic (affects human and non-human primate) and typically occurs in tropical regions. The most recent outbreak of Ebola disease occurred in the year 2014 in Liberia and spilled to Nigeria through late Patrick Sawyer at Lagos. The virus can be acquired upon contact with blood or body fluid of an infected human and animal. The Pathological effect of the virus on infected human is achieved through viral Protein (VP) produced by gene 35 of the virus. The protein interferes with the activation of interferon, a component of human body defenses, thereby hindering protective immune response. Diagnosis is by screening blood samples through ELISA and RTPCR for possible detection of the virus. There is no specific drug for the treatment of Ebola virus disease. Therefore, samples from suspected carriers should be handled with caution.