West African Ebola Epidemic (1 янв 2013 г. – 1 янв 2016 г.)

Описание:

Where: West Africa

Disease: Ebola virus disease (an extremely dangerous form of viral hemorrhagic fever)

Cause: Ebolavirus

Origin: Researches generally believe that a one-year-old boy in Guinea contracted the disease from the local bat population. The disease spread to his family and from them to others in the village and so on.

Transmission: It is believed that direct contact with bodily fluids of individuals who have shown symptoms of the disease is the only way to become infected. However, sexual intercourse may very rarely transmit the disease.

Symptoms: Typically take a long time to appear (2-21 days)
-Severe flu-like symptoms
-Internal and external bleeding due to decreased blood clotting (5-7 days later).
-Heavy bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract (uncommon)
-If the patient is not able to recover, death typically follows after 7-15 days due to low blood pressure.
-Survivors may develop many long-lasting problems such as decreased hearing, continued tiredness, and worsened vision.

Death toll: Over 11,000

End: The WHO was able to substantially slow the rate of infection through the end of 2015 and terminated the state of emergency in 2016.