Ebola -- back again?

I read a recent news article about doctors snarling at governments trying to hide evidence of certain infectous diseases. In Africa (the article said), doctors often dealt with government officials who wouldn't act unless bribed and antiquated alert systems and poor health conditions. The governments focused on SARS and ignored other situations, and the article mentioned specifically the possibility of Ebola and the Congo region.

It appears that their worst fears may have been confirmed: story.news.yahoo.com.../afp/20031107/hl_afp/congo_health_ebola_031107174722

Ebola has NOT been confirmed, though the symptoms are similar.

In the current cases, members of a family that died had eaten the meat of a wild boar they found dead in the area. Previous cases had come from apes... not pigs. It'll be a few days before results are known.

There are several classes of viruses that can cause ebola like symptoms, all are part of the hemorragic group.

VHFs are caused by viruses of four distinct families: arenaviruses, filoviruses, bunyaviruses, and flaviviruses. Each of these families share a number of features:

* They are all RNA viruses, and all are covered, or enveloped, in a fatty (lipid) coating.
* Their survival is dependent on an animal or insect host, called the natural reservoir.
* The viruses are geographically restricted to the areas where their host species live.
* Humans are not the natural reservoir for any of these viruses. Humans are infected when they come into contact with infected hosts. However, with some viruses, after the accidental transmission from the host, humans can transmit the virus to one another.
* Human cases or outbreaks of hemorrhagic fevers caused by these viruses occur sporadically and irregularly. The occurrence of outbreaks cannot be easily predicted.
* With a few noteworthy exceptions, there is no cure or established drug treatment for VHFs.

Viral hemorrhagic Fever Information

But it sounds like it has happened before. And since there is no cure, I am sure it will happen again. As long as certain precautions are taken, the exposure can be limited.

Of course, it could also be a new virus. Natural or otherwise. African Motaba anyone?

[Edited on 11/7/03 by crayon]

I would have to agree crayon.
Did a little digging on this occurence and found this article from Febuary of this year...also in Congo:

"Suspected Ebola Kills 48 in Congo"
Link:
english.peopledaily.com.cn...

"A suspected Ebola outbreak in the Republic of the Congo has left 48 people dead and many others infected, local media reported Wednesday.

Medical experts in the Cuvette West region in the central part of the African country are taking blood tests amid suspicions thatthe disease is Ebola, Joseph Mboussa, a top official of the healthministry, was quoted as saying.

Ebola is one of the world's deadliest viral diseases, causing rapid death through massive blood loss in up to 90 percent of those infected.

Medical officials from the government and the World Health Organization (WHO) have rushed to the towns of Mbomo, Kelle and Yembelangoye in Cuvette West after reports of a hemorrhagic fever outbreak reached Brazzaville, the national capital.

The authorities have closed schools, churches and government offices in the affected region, according to the report.

WHO figures indicate that more than 1,000 people have died of Ebola since the virus was first identified in 1976."

"Where Does Ebola Hide Between Epidemics?"
Link:
news.nationalgeographic.com...

And this from March:
"WHO & COG - Ebola haemorrhagic fever in the Republic of the Congo - Update 9 (25/03/2003)"
Link:
www.health.fgov.be...


From reading these above articles and the one Bryd posted, it seems fairly realistic that Ebola haemorrhagic fever is back.


regards
seekerof

Finally confirmed now. Boy thats some scary stuff, I'd hate to go that way.



BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo Nov. 14 � Health officials on Friday confirmed Ebola as the cause of 11 deaths in the northern forests, signaling the Republic of Congo's second outbreak of the hemorrhagic fever this year.

abcnews.go.com...