meghan+ebola


 * How Ebola Scares the World **

The first case of Ebola that scared the whole world was in 1995 when Ebola broke out in Kikwit, Africa. A total of three hundred and ten people became infected; two hundred and forty-four survived. Since, there have been two other major Ebola outbreaks. The first came in a laboratory in Norfolk, Virginia when a group of cynomolgus primates from Africa became ill with the disease. All four hundred monkeys had to be killed in order to contain the virus. The second outbreak occurred in Zaire, Africa. The death rate at its peak was 90%. Ebola spreads fear worldwide because death rates are extremely high, there is no known cause, and the disease has no cure or treatment(though there are theories.) () (< Beinstock>)

Ebola is a deadly virus rooted in Africa. The virus is transmitted through direct contact or contact with bodily fluids (ex. Blood). It is also possible the virus is passed through the air, but this has not been proved. There is only one proven way to stop the virus which is through isolation. There are theories out there, though there is no real way to test them until another outbreak occurs. () (< Beinstock>)

The Ebola outbreaks that scared the world the most were the outbreaks in Kikwit and Zaire. Death rates were ridiculously high, reaching the seemingly impossible amounts of 75 and 90 percent. Even as doctors and scientists raced to help the sick, people continued dying, bodies piling up. People of all countries became terrified. Many had no idea what was happening to them. Some believed it was the God punishing them. () (< Beinstock>)

Another reason Ebola virus had such a big impact on the world was the fact that there is no known cause. It is believed the virus survives in a animal host and can jump species, leading to an outbreak. That means an outbreak could occur at anytime. This also means as of now there is nothing we can do to prevent another outbreak from occurring. ()

The main reason Ebola scares the world is that there is no cure. If an outbreak does occur, even if the doctors and scientists do their best to search for a cure, it is probable it won’t be found. Isolation is the only way to hold off the virus, but that does not help the patient. For the most part, all the doctors can do is watch the patient die. This leaves the world saddened and scared out of belief. (< Beinstock>)

“Ebola has been around the region; it’s not something new, but it’s worsening.” Christophe Boesch said this after the Ebola virus hit Zaire, Africa and he is extremely right. It is possible the virus is adapting and each time it adapts it becomes more and more deadly. Ebola is something to be scared of and there is no reason to believe it will go away anytime soon. ()

Beinstock, Ric Esther, Dir. //Ebola Plague Fighters//. WGBH Educational Foundation: 1996, Film. .

LasAnthony Sanchez, Thomas G. Ksiazek, Pierre E. Rollin, Clarence J. Peters, Stuart T. Nichol, Ali S. Khan, and Brian W. J. Mahyt,. "Reemergence of Ebola Virus in Africa." National Center for Infectious Diseases Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 19/01/1996. Web. 13 Apr 2011. .

<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Century Gothic; font-size: 9pt; letter-spacing: 1.5pt; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">"Quotes with Ebola." //QuoteSea//. N.p., 2011. Web. 15 Apr 2011. <http://www.quotesea.com/quotes/with/ebola>.