Epidemiology Paper. About Ebola and Its Causes. Research Paper

Epidemiology Paper
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About Ebola and Its Causes
Ebola is a destructive illness most found among humans and animals (CDC, 2019). In 1976 the first case of Ebola was reported close to Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, it has been infecting individuals now and again, causing outbreaks in Africa. Scientists have little information about the origins of Ebola.
Nonetheless, it is trusted that the infection is creature borne, with bats being the no doubt source (Dixon Schafer & CDC 2014). Bats carrying the infection can pass them on to different animals, similar to primates, monkeys, and people. Ebola works similarly just like any other virus, waiting in a host creature and hunting down defenseless cells to infect (WHO, 2019). The initial infection occurs in cells related to the immune system – in particular monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. As the disease advances, Ebola moves along to the liver and lymph hubs through the circulation system.
Infection and Transmission
In Africa, fruit bats are known to be the hosts of the Ebola virus. The infection is passed on from natural life to individuals through contact with contaminated organic product bats, or through middle hosts, for example, monkey and gorillas, which have come into contact with the saliva or feces of bats. Individuals might be infected via infected creatures, during the time spent butchering or by consuming blood, milk, and cooked meat. The infection is later transmitted from individual to individual via contacting the blood, emissions, or other bodily liquids of an infected person, or from contact with contaminated needles (WHO, 2019).
Signs and Symptoms
EVD, which has a case setback rate of up to 90%, is a genuinely extreme viral illness portrayed by the sudden beginning of the fever, unprecedented shortcoming; torment the muscle, cerebral torment, ailment, and sore throat (WHO, 2019). This is trailed by heaving, detachment of the entrails, incapacitated kidney and liver limit, and from time to time, both internal and external biting the dust. Research office disclosures a great part of the time fuse low white platelet and platelet checks and raised liver mixes.
The incubation time frame, the time break from sickness with the contamination to the start of signs, is 2 to 21 days. People stay irresistible as long as their blood and emissions contain the contamination, a period that has been represented to be as long as 61 days after the beginning of infection.
Complications and treatment
The table below provides an overview of some of the complications brought about by Ebola.
Complication

Timeframe

Likelihood

Acute kidney injury

Short-term

High

Septic shock

Short-term

High

Maternal death

Short-term

High

Disseminated intravascular coagulation

Short-term

High

There is no known cure for Ebola, nor any vaccines, which can prevent the disease. The signs of Ebola are treated as they occur. When noted initially, the primary interventions may assist in enhancing the possibility of survival (WHO, 2019). They include:
* Giving fluids and electrolytes via infusing into the vein (Dixon Schafer & CDC 2014)
* Providing oxygen therapy to sustain the status of oxygen.
* Use of medication to boost the pressure of the blood, lower vomiting, diarrhea and to limit fever and pain.
DEMOGRAPHIC OF INTEREST
Mortality and Morbidity
The sickness builds the danger of death, killing somewhere in the scope of 25 and 90 % of those infected, with an average of 50%. This is due to low blood pressure from loss of fluid and ordinarily follows 6 to 16 days after signs appear. The most magnificent scene to date was the plague in West Africa, which occurred from December 2013 to January 2016 with 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths. In March 2016, the WHO recorded 14,120 cases, including 3,955 deaths, in Sierra Leone - more than in any other nation.
Incidences and Prevalence
Ebola was initially discovered in 1976 in DRC/ Zaire and South Sudan. In 2014, cases of Ebola were reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia. The WHO declared it a “global health issue,” warning that 20,000 individuals face the risk of being infected (CDC, 2019). Towards the end of 2014, more than 20,000 were infected, and more than 7,900 died. DRC has had significant outbreaks of the disease than any other nation (9 outbreaks). Experts of Ebola have varying suspicions as to why the DRC is vulnerable to Ebola outbreaks (Maron, 2018). Majority of the theories involve its large forested regions and the likelihood that infected fruit bats - commonly known to be the primary carrier animal for the disease are likely to be found in the affected areas. Moreover, people living in these rural areas tend to encounter infected animals hence the transmission cycle begins (Maron, 2018).
Is Ebola a Reportable Disease?
Ebola is a reportable disease since its symptoms begin showing after 2 to three weeks. Moreover, one can be infected with the disease by coming into contact with a person who is infected. The other reason is that of the complications brought about by the disease. Failure to report the disease on time could endanger the lives of many. The reporting time of the disease is immediate to ensure remedial measures are put in place to prevent the spread and contain the disease. The incidence of Ebola can be reported to the nearest medical center and who would, later on, inform the concerned state department. Alternatively, one can contact the WHO and CDC among many other such agencies.
Social Determinants of Health
One of the standard methods through which Ebola can be transmitted is the individual-to-individual transmission. This can happen via direct skin or mucous membrane contact with the blood or bodily liquids (like perspiration, urine, semen, and breast milk) of intensely sick EVD patients or infected deceased people (through burial practices). In the above circumstance, the infection is passed from individual to individual through direct contact. People having EVD cannot infect others until symptoms start. The other way is through coming into contact with an infected animal, bat, monkey, or pigs. The explanation behind this is that one would be consuming the virus from the infected animal.
The other determinant is through consuming meat or milk of an infected animal. The last determinant is connected to social factors regarding sharing things like needles. Sharing of needles with an infected individual can make one get infected with the disease since one would inject himself or herself with the infection.
Epidemiologic Triangle
As stated by the CDC (n.d), the epidemiologic triangle was created to study health problems. It assists in comprehendi...