Ebola
virus was formerly designated as Zaire ebola virus. Zaire virus is the most
dangerous of the five known viruses. Among the five known viruses four can
cause severe and fatal fever in humans and other mammals. The virus is closely related to
Marburg virus. Its natural reservoir is believed to be bats,
particularly fruit bats, and it is primarily transmitted between humans and
from animals to humans on consuming the meat of the bats, through body fluids.
The symptoms are not specific and can often be confused with more common
infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid fever,
meningococcemia, and other bacterial infections. Because the natural host of the virus is not
known the manner in which the virus appears in the human at the start of the
outbreak is not known. Ebola is not an airborne disease. Once the person
infected recovers from ebola they can no longer spread the virus.
Zmapp is the drug that has
got most of the attention. The drug is a combination of three antibodies. The
proteins bind and neutralize the Ebola virus. Seven patients have been admitted
with the drug and the supplies have been exhausted. Two of the Zmapp recipients
have died. Those who survived got goo supportive treatments and they survived
because they were younger and did not have other health problems. Zmapp has
cured 18 primitives infected by the virus. The drug is not yet suitable for
humans. Vaccines are also being developed. Vaccines were first tested in humans
in the beginning of 2003. More investment is required to develop drugs and
vaccine to combat with the deadly disease. Its urgent to invest for
strengthening health systems.
