Let's talk infectious diseases, the reason for vaccines: ᴱᵇᵒˡᵃ ⱽⁱʳᵘˢ

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a deadly disease with occasional outbreaks that occur mostly on the African continent. EVD most commonly affects people and nonhuman primates. It is caused by an infection with a group of viruses within the genus Ebolavirus.

Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, the virus has been infecting people from time to time, leading to outbreaks in several African countries. Scientists do not know where Ebola virus comes from. Based on similar viruses, they believe EVD is animal-borne, with bats or nonhuman primates being the most likely source.

The virus first spreads to people through direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of animals. Ebola virus then spreads to other people through direct contact with body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from EVD. The virus then gets into the body through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth. People can get the virus through sexual contact with someone who is sick with or has recovered from EVD. The virus can persist in certain body fluids, like semen, after recovery from the illness.

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after contact with the virus, with an average of 8 to 10 days. The course of the illness typically progresses from “dry” symptoms initially (such as fever, aches and pains, and fatigue), and then progresses to “wet” symptoms (such as diarrhea and vomiting) as the person becomes sicker.

Primary signs and symptoms of Ebola often include:

▪️Fever

▪️Aches and pains, such as severe headache and muscle and joint pain

▪️Weakness and fatigue

▪️Sore throat

▪️Loss of appetite

▪️Gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting

▪️Unexplained hemorrhaging, bleeding or bruising

▪️Other symptoms may include red eyes, skin rash, and hiccups (late-stage).

There are currently two treatments approved to treat EVD caused by the Ebola virus. Both treatments use monoclonal antibodies to treat the disease. Ebola virus disease has no cure.

Vaccine development began in the late 1970s. Because EVD outbreaks are rare and have, until 2014, been controlled quickly, commercial vaccine manufacturers have demonstrated little urgency in advancing vaccines through clinical trials. That changed in 2014 with an uncontrolled outbreak.

In 2019 the first Ebola vaccine was approved for use. This vaccine is given as a single dose vaccine and has been found to be safe and protective against Zaire ebolavirus, which has caused the largest and most deadly Ebola outbreaks to date.

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