Mohamed Kishk

Professor Germain
UWRT 1102-028
13 November 2014
Genre Piece
Sometimes, the deadliest killers on this planet are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
These microscopic predators are diseases and viruses. In my report, I will answer many basic
questions concerning one of the fastest killing viruses that has caused lots of controversy and
raised lots of media attention with its reemergence: the Ebola virus.
The Ebola virus is a member of the negative stranded RNA viruses known as filoviruses.
There are four different strains of the Ebola virus: Zaire (EBOZ), Sudan (EBOS), Tai (EBOT)
and Reston (EBOR). They are all similar except for small serological differences and gene
sequence differences. The Reston Strain is the only one, which does not affect humans. This
strain of the virus affects monkeys and similar primates. The Ebola virus received its name from
the Ebola River in Zaire, Africa after its first outbreak in 1976.
When magnified under an electron microscope, the Ebola virus resembles long filaments
in a threadlike shape. It is usually found in the shape of a U". There are also many spikes that
are visible on the surface of the virus. The average length and diameter of the virus is 920nm and
80nm. The virons are polymorphic and some attain lengths as long as 14000nm. The Ebola virus
consists of a protein coat, the nucleic acid it encloses, and a host cell membrane, which is a
lipoprotein unit that surrounds the virus. The virus is also composed of polypeptides, a
nucleoprotein, a glycoprotein, a polymerase and other undesignated proteins. These proteins are
synthesized by mRNA, which is transcribed by the RNA of the virus. The genome consists of a
single strand of negative RNA that is not infectious.
Once the virus enters the body, it travels through the blood stream where it is replicated
in many of the organs. How it penetrates the membranes of cells and enters the cell is still
unknown. Once the virus is inside a cell, the RNA is transcribed and replicated. The RNA is
transcribed, producing mRNA, which is used to produce the proteins of the virus. The RNA is
replicated in the cytoplasm and is mediated by the synthesis of an RNA strand, which serves as a
template for producing additional Ebola genomes. As the infection progresses, the cytoplasm
develops "prominent inclusion bodies" which means that it will contain the viral nucleocapsid
that will become highly ordered. The virus then assembles and buds off from the host cell, while
obtaining its lipoprotein coat from the outer membrane. This destruction of the host cell occurs
rapidly, while producing large numbers of viruses budding from it.
The Ebola virus mainly attacks cells of the lymphatic organs, liver, kidney, ovaries,
testes, and the cells of the reticuloendothelial system. The massive destruction of the liver is the
trademark of Ebola. The victim loses vast amounts of blood. Capillary leakage and bleeding then
leads to a massive loss in intravascular volume. In fatal cases, shock and acute respiratory
disorder can also be observed. Numerous victims are delirious due to high fevers and many die
of shock.
During the onset of Ebola, the host will experience weakness, fever, muscle pain,

headache and sore throat. As the infection progresses, vomiting, limited kidney and liver
function, chest and abdominal pain, rash and diarrhea begin. External bleeding from skin and
injection sites and internal bleeding from organs will also begin to occur due to the failure of
blood clotting.
How the very first person acquires natural infection is still a mystery. After the first
person is infected, further spread of Ebola to other humans is due to direct contact with bodily
fluids such as blood and secretions. It is also spread through contact with the patients skin,
which carries the virus. The virus can be spread either by person-to-person transmission, needle
transmission or through sexual contact. Person-to-person transmission occurs when people have
direct contact with Ebola patients and do not have suitable protection. Family members and
doctors who contract the virus usually obtain it from this type of transmission. Needle
transmission occurs when needles, which have been used on Ebola patients, are reused. This
happens frequently in developing countries such as Zaire and Sudan because the heath care is
underfinanced. A person who has recovered from the Ebola virus can also infect another person
though sexual contact. This is because the person may still carry the virus in his/her genitalia. A
fourth method of transmission is airborne transmission. This type is not proven 100% although
there have been several experiments done to prove that this type of transmission is highly
possible. The time between the acquisition of Ebola and the appearance of its symptoms is 2-21
days.
Diagnosing the Ebola virus may take up to 10 days. The methods used to detect the virus
are very slow, compared to how rapid Ebola can spread and kill its victims. Blood or tissue
samples are sent to a high-containment laboratory designed for working with infected substances
and are tested for specific antigens, antibodies or the viruss genetic material itself. Recently, a
skin test has been developed which can detect infections much faster. A skin biopsy specimen is
fixed in a chemical called Formalin, which kills the virus, and is then safely transported to a lab.
It is processed with chemicals and if the dead Ebola virus is present, the specimen will turn
bright red.
No treatment, vaccine, or antiviral therapy exists just yet. Roughly ninety percent of all
Ebola's victims die. The patient can only receive intensive supportive care and hope that they can
be one of the fortunate ten percent who survive.
In November of 1995, a Russian scientist claimed that they had discovered a cure for
Ebola. It uses an antibody called Immunoglobulin G. They immunized horses with it and
challenged them with live Ebola Zaire viruses. The scientists then took their blood and used it as
antiserum. With the antiserum, they have developed Ebola immune sheep, goat, pigs and
monkeys. USAMRIID (USA Medical Research Institute for Infections Disease) received some
equine Immunoglobulin and had some success but fell short of the great claims of the Russians.
This discovery does give grounds for optimism that an effective cure for Ebola can be found.
To control an outbreak of Ebola, you must prevent the further spread of the virus. The
CDC usually sends a team of medical scientists to the area of the outbreak where they provide
advice and assistance to prevent additional cases. To limit the spread of the virus, they collect
specimens, study the course of the virus, and look for others who may have come into contact
with the virus. If anyone has been exposed to the virus, they are put under close surveillance and
are constantly sprayed with chemicals. The patients are isolated to interrupt person-to-person
spread at the hospitals. This is called the barrier technique and these are the standards that go
along with this technique: 1- All hospital personnel in contact with the patient must wear
protective gear such as gowns, masks, gloves, and goggles. 2- Visitors are not allowed.

3- Disposable materials and wastes are removed or burned after use. 4- Reusable materials, such
as syringes and needles are sterilized. 5- All surfaces are cleaned with sanitizing solution.
6- Fatal cases are buried or cremated. The outbreak is officially over when two maximum
incubation periods of 42 days have passed without any new cases.
In the past, there have been 4 major outbreaks. The first outbreak occurred in 1976 in
Zaire, Africa where there were 280 fatalities out of 318 cases. The second also occurred in 1976,
but in the nearby country of Sudan where 150 victims out of 250 cases died. In total, there were
340 deaths out of the 568 who were infected, a death rate of almost 60%. A smaller outbreak
arose in 1979 that was also in Sudan. There were only 34 cases with 22 fatalities. Tiny outbreaks
have occurred periodically in Africa up until 1995. In 1995, after 16 years of hiding, the fourth
appearance of Ebola emerged and devastated Africa once again. This time it was in Kikwit,
Zaire. The first patient was discovered on the 6th of January, and the outbreak was officially over
on the 24th of August. There was a total of 315 cases and 244 deaths, a 77% fatality rate.
The animal species, which carries the Ebola virus, has not been found. Since outbreaks
begin when man comes in contact with the animal reservoir, scientist have made several attempts
during the 1970 outbreaks to find it, but have been unsuccessful. The 1995 outbreak gave
scientist a perfect opportunity to search for the source once again. After locating the very first
patient, a charcoal-maker named Gaspard Menga, they decided to search the jungle where he
probably came in contact with Ebola. They collected over 18,000 animals and 30,000 insects.
These include mosquitoes, hard ticks, rodents, birds, bats, cats, small bush antelope, snakes,
lizards and a few monkeys. After collecting, the specimens are tested for antibodies of Ebola or
Ebola itself. Scientists are still currently to this day searching and hoping that they will find the
animal reservoir.

Works Cited
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14
Nov. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
"Ebola Fast Facts." CNN. Cable News Network, 13 Nov. 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
"Ebola Outbreak: Features Map." WHO. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2014.
"Ebola Virus: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 17 Nov.
2014.
"Inside the Fascinating and Terrifying Science of Ebola." Alternet. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
"Special CollectionThe Ebola Epidemic." Science/AAAS | Special Collection: Ebola. N.p., n.d.
Web. 18 Nov. 2014.