Do Now: Ebola

The outbreak of the Ebola virus has raised alarms from neighboring countries. Ebola has been estimated to have killed 2,288 people and is expected to infect thousands more in the upcoming weeks. Ebola is contracted through direct contact with infected bodily fluids. This includes semen, urine, sweat, saliva, and blood.

Ebola is challenging to overcome for the effected countries and communities because of their lack of health infrastructure. This makes it near to impossible to control, contain, and purge the disease. In order to help control Ebola from spreading, the international community should send aid workers, medicine, supplies and information about proper burial techniques in order to help overcome the Ebola outbreak. Although there is no known cure or vaccine, the international community can help by sending medicine to treat the symptoms and make the victims of Ebola more comfortable and in less pain. It is vital for the international community to step in and lend a helping hand because if not, Ebola will continue to spread and eventually affect places and countries not apart of the African continent.

The spread of Ebola has affected my way of thinking my making me see how important doctors are. It has made me see how long vaccines take to be accepted and legalized in order to treat diseases. Ebola has caused companies and scientists to speed up the process of developing a vaccine and even so, it will take a long time. The spread of Ebola has also made me realize how vital it is to have clean hygiene and take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of other diseases as well.

Information Source: http://blogs.kqed.org/education/2014/09/12/how-can-we-help-fight-the-ebola-outbreak/

Image Source: W, R. L. “Ebola’s Spread.” Weblog post. N.p., n.d. Web.

Ebola 2014- Should We Be Worried?

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This Summer, as we were all going on lavish vacations, getting tagged in “ALS Ice Bucket” challenges, and procrastinating on summer homework, West Africa was experiencing one of the largest EGuinea-Bats-Ebola-1bola outbreaks in history. Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever is a disease of humans and other primates. This virus is only transmitted through direct contact with the infected person who has shown symptoms. This means contact with bodily fluids, syringes, and the blood of infected animals. Ebola originated from fruit bats and spread from then on. There are three reasons why we should be worried about Ebola. The reasons are the late visibility of symptoms, the similarities to the average flu, and the largest outbreak of Ebola is the current 2014 outbreak in Africa.

One reason to be worried about Ebola is because Ebola symptoms show between 2-21 days after exposure. This means that one does not know he or she has Ebola until the disease has progresses. Another reason to be worried about Ebola is because the symptoms of Ebola mirror those of the average flu. Ebola symptoms include fever, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.

Unfortunately for those infected, there is no known cure or treatment that treats Ebola. Due to this, between 50-90% of people with Ebola die. In order to help control this disease, doctors treat the symptoms of Ebola rather than the disease itself. Victims to this disease are hospitalized and their blood oxygen levels are monitored. Also, their electrolytes are balanced, and if present, their other infections are treated.

Ebola-symptoms1Health workers are the most in danger for being infected by this disease because they are always in close contact with the sick patients. When these health workers return to their countries to be treated, many people are scared of the risk of exposure and the spread of this deadly virus outside of Africa.

The last reason that we should be worried about Ebola is because to date, the largest outbreak is the ongoing 2014 West Africa outbreak. This outbreak is affecting Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. Recent polls have been administered and as of August 22, 2014, 1,427 deaths have occurred due to Ebola out of 2,615 cases.

In conclusion, we as the international community should be worried about the Ebola outbreak because of the late arrival of symptoms, the similarities of the symptoms to the average flu, and the fact that the largest outbreak of Ebola is the current 2014 outbreak in Africa.

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Works Cited

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 08 Dec. 2014. Web.
08 Dec. 2014.
“Five Ways UNICEF Is Fighting Ebola.” UNICEF Connect UNICEF BLOG. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.
“Muerte Africana: El Virus Del Ébola.” Alternos.la. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2014.