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In February 2014, the Ebola virus escaped again on freedom. If before he destroyed people in Central Africa, then now for the first time hit the western part of the Black Continent. This a mysterious disease in a few days turns a person into a bloody mass. No Ebola Vaccine, Effective Methods treatment too. 90% of those infected are doomed to death. End of June 567 cases of the disease were recorded, of which 350 ended fatal.
Crushing scale
The first Ebola virus was discovered in Congo in 1976, and the last major epidemic occurred there in 2007, then 187 people became victims of the disease. This year’s first outbreak the disease has been reported in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. These states are perhaps the poorest in the world.
War and political crisis have significantly undermined government structure, including the healthcare system. First cases recorded in February, but laboratory studies lasting 6 weeks allowed the virus 1.5 months walking around the country without hindrance. Today the international organization Doctors Without Borders has 60 places which is common Ebola.
Doctors Without Borders is the only organization providing help local doctors treat infected people. But her strength employees are running out. In addition, there are not enough teams that could travel to new foci of the disease. According to ITAR-TASS, since the beginning of 2014, 264 have died from this disease in Guinea people, in Sierra Leone – 49, and in Liberia – 24.
According to medical research, in the capital of Guinea – Conakry recorded four cases of infection with Ebola. All the infected were sent to isolated medical centers.
Presumably, the virus was brought to the capital by a resident of the city Dabola, symptoms of a fever in which were discovered after a trip to Guinea’s Central District, Dingira, as reported by the Minister Health Remy Lama. The man, returning home, died. On the four of his brothers arrived from the capital consulted doctors for some time with symptoms similar to fever. Analyzes confirmed the presence of the disease. All four men and their families were quarantined.
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Guinean Ministry of Health takes all measures to combat with the spread of the disease: quarantine is introduced; mobile laboratories. But it is impossible to foresee everything. Doctor Amara Jambai, Head of the Center for Prevention and Control Sierra Leone diseases, said that some suspected patients are on the run and hiding from doctors. There are 57 such cases to date. This means that to predict where the disease will make itself felt impossible.
“The magnitude of the current Ebola epidemic is unprecedented,” statement published on the website of Doctors Without borders. ”
African plague
Ebola fever – a particularly dangerous acute viral disease, characterized by severe hemorrhagic syndrome (hemorrhage) and a high mortality rate. The carriers of the disease are, presumably, rodents, living near human habitation. Virus cases known at autopsy of chimpanzees and eating brain monkeys. Illness is a great danger to surrounding.
The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, contact and injection by way. It is found in body fluids, such as saliva, nasopharyngeal mucus, urine, semen. Very high risk of infection with care for patients through hands and household items on which traces of blood or urine, as well as through medical tools and sexually. Virus exposure independent age and gender of a person.
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The virus enters the body mainly through the mucous membranes and skin penetrates the lymph nodes and spleen, decreases platelet count, blood vessels and internal organs are affected, foci of death and hemorrhage occur. Most change against the background of the virus are the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, kidneys, endocrine glands, and brain.
The average incubation period for Ebola is 7 days, but may vary from 2 to 16 days. Disease onset accompanied by high temperature (up to 40 degrees), head pain and weakness. From the first days of the disease, the patient is observed violation of facial expressions and sunken eyes. Then dryness appears and sore throat, pain in the chest and muscles, cough. To the third day there is abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea with blood, leading to dehydration of the body.
The disease progresses rapidly, appear on the fifth day various bleeding, including from the mucous membranes, the patient is covered with a rash, his skin is peeling. Reveal lethargy, drowsiness, confusion. Virus disables blood coagulation ability. Death comes on eighth to ninth day from massive blood loss and shock. At favorable outcome, a febrile period lasts 10-12 days, recovery is slow for 2-3 months.
Attempts to create a vaccine were made in the United States (they took into account that it can be used as biological weapons), but research curtailed due to insufficient funding.
Deadly Delicacy
According to scientists, the main carriers of the Ebola virus are bats and bats. The meat of these bats in guinea considered a delicacy due to its high palatability, local residents traditionally eat it. Spicy cooked from it a stew with which to drink alcohol in small street cafes.
But the worst thing is barbecue from mice, that is, non-roasted meat. A person may well become infected by contact with these mice. or eating their meat. Guinean Ministry of Health immediately it also banned the use of bat meat.
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Many get sick after the funeral of relatives who have died from fever. An example is the death of a healer who has treated person. Or the words of a local resident confirming this version: “I came from Dara because of a fever outbreak. Many died there.” people, including members of my family. The nurse who died was next to her dead mother. And those who her died buried. “In this country, traditionally, funeral rites are held women, so most of the cases were among them. Authorities banned a traditional funeral. Now dead from Ebola fever buried by medical workers protected by suits and masks.
The population is afraid of what is happening, and where there is fear, invariably rumors and speculation are spreading. Many believe that the ban on the funeral exists in order to cut off the dead from the terrible limb diseases and seize internal organs. Recently police was forced to use tear gas when relatives stormed the hospital, trying to pick up the bodies.
Virus localization
Distribution cannot be discounted. Ebola fever beyond infected countries. To avoid of this, all countries of the region have already introduced strict medical control in airports. And the Gambian authorities completely closed the southern checkpoints and do not accept passenger flights from Guinea and Senegal.
Schools are closed in regions with outbreaks of fever. at the borders of people are forced to measure temperature. Everywhere hung posters listing the symptoms of the disease, with calls to see a doctor. But many still rely on traditional methods. So in Molaa at the checkpoint soldiers on duty with herbal bracelets made on her wrists local healer.
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Liberia criminalizes cover-up Ebola fever, as some patients hid at home or in temples, instead of seeking medical help. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf said in this regard: “Let the threat of punishment be a warning to everyone. I say about this, taking care primarily of the lives of our citizens. The threat diseases is real and threatens our country, maybe many people die. ”
Secret vaccine
A few years ago in the program “Time” sounded sensational the message that our scientists have developed a vaccine against the virus Ebola fever. Then followed a few frames shot in Ministry of Defense laboratories and close-up – test tube with a vaccine. The total complexity of the plot of Igor Prokopenko was given 40 seconds of airtime. But then, and now a journalist can tell a lot more.
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It all started after Ebola broke out in Zaire in 1985 year. The first studies began by the Americans, but they passed in an atmosphere of strict secrecy. Next outbreak occurred in 1987, the results of American research still kept secret. 1995 – new victims of fever. Here already in the world they started talking about the fact that this is the result of a test biological weapons, and if you do not find a vaccine, then the world will die.
Russian scientists still found the vaccine, and the discovery, without betraying publicized, transferred to the World Health Organization. Then Igor Prokopenko with the permission of the chief of the General Headquarters was allowed to shoot in the laboratory. But the main materials filmed by a journalist lay in the archive with a vulture “top secret” for five years.
The question arises: why such secrecy, why were silent government officials related to these developments? Apparently, because anyone involved in vaccine development against viruses, you can easily blame for the creation of biological weapons. In this matter, the line between good and evil very thin. By the way, Americans are still hiding the results of their research.
Galina ORLOVA
Africa Viruses Epidemic Time
