Ebola Virus BY HEATHER BRANDSTETTER SAMANTHA LACLAIR JENNA

Ebola Virus BY: HEATHER BRANDSTETTER SAMANTHA LACLAIR JENNA HENSEL DANIELLE GILFUS

What is Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is an infectious normally fatal disease, marked by fever and severe internal bleeding, spread through contact with infected body fluids by a filovirus (Ebola virus) It is thought the fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts It is introduced to the human population through close contact with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals in the rainforest either dead or ill ex: Chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines Ebola is then spread from human to human via direct contact (broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, also surfaces and or materials contaminated with these fluids People remain infectious as long as their blood and bodily fluids contain the virus. Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to 7 days after recovery from the illness

Symptoms of Ebola Virus High fever (greater than 101. 5) Severe headache Muscle pain Weakness Diarrhea Vomiting Stomach pain Unexplained bleeding or bruising Rash

Management and Treatment No specific vaccine has yet been approved by the FDA Symptoms of the virus are treated as they appear Actions can be taken to improve the chance of survival if corrected early on, so it is very important to report any symptoms of Ebola to a HCP as soon as possible for further investigation. There are some experimental treatments that have been proven effective with animals but not approved by the FDA for human trials

Prevention of the Ebola Virus Currently there is no FDA–approved vaccines If you must travel to an area affected with an Ebola out break or have been around someone who has traveled or is showing symptoms : -Practice good hand hygiene. - Avoid funerals or rituals that require you to touch a person who has died from the virus - Avoid coming into contact with wild animals such as bats and monkeys, blood, and raw meat prepared from these animals - Avoid seeking treatments from hospitals where pts have been treated with the Ebola virus - Upon return from an area of an outbreak monitor your health for at least 21 days and seek medical attention if symptoms of the virus develop - Wear shoes in areas known to have outbreaks and appropriate clothing. - If you are a health care worker you should wear protective equipment such as a mask, gown, gloves, and eye wear. -Avoid direct contact with bodies of the deceased who were infected with the virus. - Isolate patients who have the virus from other patients. - If you come in direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person notify Health care officials immediately.

Who can contract this virus? People who have already contracted the ebola virus are immune. Antibodies are formed from this illness and most cannot get this virus a second time.

EBP Vaccines- in trial, not enough funding Serum of Modified tobacco leaves TKM-Ebola on “fast track” Blood from formerly ill pt used for the antibodies to treat disease faster. 100% effective in monkeys

W. H. O. states largest outbreak in the history of the Ebola virus Larger than all other outbreak combined First outbreak recorded were in October 2013 3, 685 cases up to date 1, 841 dead (virus will live in human blood for up to 9 hours) Areas of virus activity are primarily in Western Africa Guinea Sierra Leone Nigeria Liberia

Ebola #’s Country Guinea Case definition Total Confirmed 579 Probable 343 150 Suspected 42 All Liberia Probable Sierra Leone All 494 815 64 67 373 227 1698 46 47 871 430 37 Suspected 72 99 5 271 Confirmed 1107 Probable 149 771 Suspected 480 All 59 2 Confirmed 403 Total (deaths) 51 39 34 12 92 17 All 1216 476 39 All 3685 1841 50

5 Must Know Facts About Ebola 1. Avoid unnecessary travel to CDC “hot spots. ” (Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea) 2. There is no current vaccine approved by the FDA 3. Spreads very easily from person to person, if you think you’ve been infected, seek medical attention as soon as possible 4. Key symptoms to report: high fever, diarrhea, severe headache, unexplained bleeding, rash. 5. People who have already contracted the Ebola virus are immune due to antibodies formed.