Ebola-SurvivorUnlike the deadly HIV/AIDS, Not so many people seem to know about the Ebola Virus Disease EVD (also known as the Ebola Hemorrhagic disease), how it is spread and how to prevent it. Most people outside of Africa have never even heard of this deadly disease. Ebola virus is deadlier than even HIV. HIV/AIDS is a 'silent killer' and kills slowly although painfully.

Ebola virus on the other hand, is like raging fire and consumes almost everything on its way within the shortest possible time. So far, there is no vaccine to treat Ebola virus and the death rate stands anywhere from 50% to 90%. In the villages and small towns in Africa where there are no hospitals and health centers, survival rate is very low and most people who unfortunately come into contact with this deadly virus die within a month and that includes the "about" 3 weeks incubation period.

The incubation period is the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ebola virus has an incubation period of anywhere from 2 days to 3 weeks. In other words, some people will experience the symptoms of the virus as early as 2 days after coming into contact with the virus while in others, it can take up to about 3 weeks before the symptoms begin to show. Once the symptoms begin to show in a person, the person usually dies within a week mostly from internal bleeding. When it comes to the Ebola virus, there is no time to plan for the future because there is no future and that is how deadly Ebola virus is.

Some researchers believe the Ebola virus originated from the Jungles of Africa and are carried by animals such as monkeys, Bats, pigs, etc. However, most of these animals especially bats show no signs at all. In other words, although bats carry the virus, the virus doesn't kill bats but humans after coming into contact with the bodily fluids of infected bats. That is how the virus is contracted. It is contracted through coming Into contact with the bodily fluids of infected organisms. Although Ebola virus is now in the news, it has been around in Africa for quite a long time. It is now in the news because the virus has spread to the big cities and towns in "Red Zone" countries such as Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

Although Ebola virus has always been deadly, it wasn't a major health concern in Africa why because the disease existed only in remote areas near the jungles and since those "remote dwellers" were cut-off from the rest of the population, the virus was easily contained. It is now a major health threat because it is raging in the cities and big towns and can easily be carried to other countries. Since the symptoms don't often show early (up to 21 days incubation period), most people living with the virus don't even realize it until it is too late and they may spread it around without even knowing and that is why the Ebola virus is such a major health threat.

The Ebola disease often starts with a fever, throat and muscle pains, and headaches. There is then nausea, vomiting and diarrhea along with decreased functioning of the liver and kidneys. At this point some people begin to have problems with bleeding and in most cases, death follows.

As I mentioned earlier on, the disease is contracted through bodily fluids or coming into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. So, improper handling of meat, eating infected bush meat, sexual intercourse with an infected person, saliva and sweat of an infected person, etc. all can cause the deadly Ebola virus disease. Protect yourself and others because there is no future in Ebola.

UPDATE: 9/9/2014 

There is no sign of stopping as ebola the deadly monster continues to tear people into pieces all across Africa. Although the disease so far has not crossed West Africa, the economic impact can be felt all across Africa. The death toll keeps rising and many countries have put measures in place. Many countries including some African countries have declared the ebola killing zones, no go zones. According to the World Health Organization, 

In Liberia, the disease has killed 1,089 people among 1,871 cases, the highest national toll, according to the WHO's update of last Friday. Overall in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, 2,097 have died out of 3,944 cases. Another 18 cases and seven deaths have been recorded in Nigeria and one non-fatal case in Senegal.

UPDATE: 9/28/2014

Official death toll has passed 3,000 – but could be up to 9,000. The World Health Organization has warned of 17,000 more fatalities over the next six weeks. The number of Ebola cases in Liberia and Sierra Leone could rise to between 550,000 and 1.4 million by January if there are no "additional interventions or changes in community behavior," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a report Tuesday.

UPDATE: 11/10/2014

The UN body says the official toll in the three worst-hit countries of West Africa has risen to 4,950 out of 13,241 recorded cases. Please note. This is just the official number. The true figure however, is far bigger than this. In reality, most families especially those in the rural areas do not send their sick ones to the treatment centers. Nigeria and Senegal were declared ebola-free by the WHO on October 20, 2014.

As I said earlier on, the economic impact of ebola can be felt all across Africa. Ebola is chasing some investors away and scaring others from joining the force leaving huge dents on some "Africa rising" news headlines. 

UPDATE: 1/13/2016

Africa is now EBOLA-FREE.

Total Ebola deaths (Figures up to 13 January, 2016): 11,315.

Liberia: 4,809 recorded deaths

Sierra Leone: 3,955 recorded deaths

Guinea: 2,536 recorded deaths

Nigeria: 8 recorded deaths

 

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