Deadly Viruses

Viruses are constantly evolving around the world, and there are prominently notorious ones that have cause high volumes of human fatality around the globe. In recent years, the world has seen an alarming number of fatalities within a short period of time, and the Ebola virus for one, is getting out of control. Let’s take a look at some of these most deadly viruses that are posing a huge threat to mankind.

Life-threatening Viruses EBOLA

Ebola, the latest epidemic to dominate the news headlines is one of the world’s most virulent diseases. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), up to 90% of sufferers can die from the virus.

The Ebola virus first emerged in Sudan and Zaire in 1976 and is named after the Ebola River in Zaire, Central Africa. There are five known strains and the Ebola–zaire is the deadliest, accounting for the highest mortality rate and the most outbreaks. For the past 38 years, the Ebola-zaire disease was found only within Central Africa. In the first outbreak of the Ebola-zaire strain, nearly 300 people died and about a year later, the disease suddenly vanished. It returned in 1994, still contained within the rainforest of Central Africa.

Until December 2013, people started dying from a mysterious disease on the western tip of Africa. This outbreak was unusual because it started in Guinea, which has never before been affected, and had spread to the urban areas. Within the last few months, the mysterious disease which was found to be Ebola, had accelerated its transmission within Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and West Africa. This current outbreak is the most explosive to date, and has caused more than 1500 deaths with greater than 3000 suspected cases.

SYMPTOMS OF EBOLA

The frightening aspect of Ebola is that it mimics the flu and detection is almost negligible and difficult until it is too late. Symptoms show up within 2 to 21 days after infection and usually include high fever, headache, sore throat, body aches, weakness, stomach pains and a lack of appetite. As the disease gets worse, it causes bleeding inside the body, as well as from the eyes, ears, and nose. Some people vomit or cough up blood, and have bloody faeces. Some people experience a rash along with the reddening of their eyes.

As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop. This leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding. People, who don’t see a doctor when they experience flu-like symptoms, have little or no chance of being saved.

Transmission of the Ebola Virus

So how did the Ebola virus travel almost 4000km from Central Africa to West Africa, about the distance between Singapore and Beijing, without being detected?

ANIMAL TO ANIMAL/HUMAN

Bats are known for their ability to migrate over hundreds and even thousands of miles. Thus, one theory points to bats as the main culprit for transmitting Ebola. Scientists have found Ebola antibodies in bat species that are widespread in Africa. The virus infects and replicates inside bats, but doesn’t kill them. It is believed that when these bats bite another animal, or an animal eats something that has the bat’s infected saliva on it, the virus spreads. People who handle the carcasses or organs of these infected bats or animals become carriers of the virus.

HUMAN TO HUMAN

Direct human contact is just one of the many ways in which the virus can spread from person to person. Contact with surfaces that have an infected person’s blood or even perspiration can also cause the virus to spread. The Ebola virus is tough enough to live on surfaces as long as 48 hours if the conditions are right for its survival. It does not, usually, survive long on surfaces in very cold or very hot temperatures but survives well at room temperature.

Saliva is another body fluid that can cause the virus to pass between people. If someone is drooling and you touch the drool, you can get Ebola. If an infected person drinks from a cup and leaves a bit of their saliva on the side of the cup and you come in contact with it, you may contract the virus. The Ebola virus can also spread through infected urine or faeces. If someone goes to the restroom and a drop of urine spills on the floor, you are at risk of getting the virus when you visit the same restroom. Open cuts on the skin also enable the virus to enter a person’s body.

Even if someone does survive a deadly disease like Ebola, there’s a potential that the once infected person can still pass on the virus for just under 8 weeks.