The Ebola virus, like all viruses “hot”, no cure and no specific treatment. The treatment used today is to maintain the life of the person by methods of resuscitation (CPR, artificial respiration) and control bleeding as far as possible.

As for a vaccine, investigations are underway but these are complicated because we still do not know all the proteins of the virus and because there are only 2 or three laboratories equipped to work with a virus such as these.

These laboratories are located in the U.S. and Russia, and the best known are the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in Atlanta, Georgia, and USAMRIID (United Estates Infectius Army Medical Research of Diseases, Research Center for Infectious Diseases Army U.S. rough translation).

The Soviet Union (Russia) to manipulate this virus for military purposes, it is easy to reproduce in laboratories, highly efficient aerosol, highly contagious Ebola mortality can reach 90%, and most important is that there is no specific treatment.

Calif.. CDC and known outbreaks

This virus has been classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Level 4 Security-biohazardous. This means that for those in Level 4 (hotspot) to use maximum caution biological (use of biohazard suits, similar to those of astronauts, three pairs of gloves and the environment should be most effective filters for air and waste. Also after working at Level 4 should enter the decontamination shower (called gray zone) which is a 7 minute shower which is sprayed with the most potent chemicals and disinfectants. We are not working at Level 4 until one has years of experience.

The first place was identified was a co-epidemic in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) and Sudan. The strain of Zaire is the deadliest in nearly 90%. The Sudan had a 60%, about 30% less, but quickly expanded. These were the most significant outbreaks. There have been outbreaks in England, Sweden, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), and the U.S.. All had fewer than 10 cases and almost no deaths occurred. The most significant outbreaks: RDC (the place of first outbreak), Sudan (also where the first outbreak occurred), Congo, Gabon and Uganda.

They discover how Ebola virus infects cells

(NC & T) The Ebola virus reproduction in laboratory-grown cells is severely hampered by certain chemicals that inhibit enzymes, according to a team of experts whose research has been supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The researchers identified two cellular enzymes Ebola virus needs to reproduce. When those enzymes are blocked, the virus loses most of its infectivity.

Ebola virus, like the Marburg virus now alarming Angola, is a filovirus, a family of viruses that cause severe hemorrhagic fevers, and often fatal. Finding medical countermeasures for viral hemorrhagic fevers is a priority for global public health, not only because these diseases occur naturally, but also because, according to Elias A. alert Zerhouni, NIH director, could be used for bioterrorism.

This research sheds light on the mechanisms of Ebola virus uses to enter cells. Anthony S. Fauci, NIAID director, is convinced that the findings raise the possibility of a broad-spectrum antiviral therapy that could be effective against multiple hemorrhagic fever viruses.

The study’s lead author, James M. Cunningham, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston and his colleagues discovered two cellular enzymes Ebola virus uses to choose and cut up one of the viral surface proteins. Once this protein is snipped apart, the virus is free to begin multiplying. The scientists applied broad-spectrum enzyme inhibitors to mammalian cells before exposing them to Ebola virus. When one specific cellular enzyme, cathepsin B, was inhibited, the infectivity of Ebola virus dropped to near zero. Another enzyme, cathepsin L, also demonstrated an important role in the infection process.

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The Ebola virus is responsible for an acute febrile illness, severe and often very deadly affects humans and primates. It produces a hemorrhagic fever similar characteristics to Argentina hemorrhagic fever (Junin virus). Is called hemorrhagic fever because it presents with high fever associated with generalized bleeding.

The recognition of the virus was first made during a simultaneous epidemic in Zaire and Sudan. Of the total 550 cases, killed 470. The epidemic spread through direct contact with the sick and the reuse of needles. In 1995 there was another outbreak in Zaire, where 250 cases were diagnosed of whom 80% died. Despite extensive research is still unknown what the natural reservoir of the virus, so it is unknown how the virus which infects humans and starts the epidemic.

Viruses are usually named with the name of the country or place where they were discovered. The responsibility of giving the name to a virus that lies in discovering it.

Ebola Virus Symptoms

The symptoms of Ebola are similar to those of other diseases such as malaria, common in Africa and other diseases.

After an incubation period of three to nine days, nonspecific symptoms like malaise, headache, conjunctivitis, muscle aches, nausea and vomiting. Typically, the fever is 39 to 40 ° C. After one to three days, watery diarrhea is observed mental disorders. The most reliable clinical sign is the appearance between the fifth and seventh day of a rash on the face and neck that expands into a centrifuge to members, while appearing skin hemorrhages, gastrointestinal, kidney and eye. Other manifestations include the inflation of the heart muscle, pancreas, spleen and liver.

The virus is very contagious from person to person, the person spread the virus through blood and other secretions (saliva, sweat, semen, vaginal secretions). There is no drug to cure the disease nor the vaccine that prevents there.

These symptoms as stated above, are mistaken for other diseases, thus performing a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) said in English that if their numbers in Spanish (PCR) is mistaken for the Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. This technique or study to identify the virus is a specific test, and indeed very expensive, making the polymerase reaction (which is located in the chromosomes or chromatin). Their reaction stands for polymerase chain.

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