Controlling Ebola Outbreak Once Again

The good news is that, the World Health Organization has announced the Ebola outbreak in three west African countries finally ended as virus spread of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone is now under control. Margaret Chan, MD, WHO Director-General, mentioned that the Ebola-free status is a “monumental achievement”. He also congratulated incredible efforts of national authorities, heroic health workers, civil society, local and worldwide organizations, and generous partners, etc. Bruce Aylward, MD, MPH, the WHO’s assistant director-general in charge of Ebola outbreak response, confirmed that, there are rare chances flare-ups of this disease again as virus spread has been decreased significantly from respective population. Mr. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director of the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) warned that, Ebola is a threat which is not so easily going to disappear especially from the areas where it had appeared before. This can be also found to be true by the two recent flare-ups in Liberia in November, although in May 2015 the nation had been declared Ebola-free. 

Ebola Virus 

Ebola is a disease caused by entry of any Ebola virus strain belonging to filoviridae family into the body. The transmission of the Ebola virus can be due to coming in the contact with the body fluids (e.g. faeces and urine, vomit, semen and sweat), or from direct contact of broken skin and mucous membranes with blood of an infected person. When virus enters into the body it multiplies and lead to harmful health effects like severe bleeding (hemorrhaging), organ failure and death. Previously it was postulated that, transmission of Ebola virus can happen via drinking-water contaminated by faeces or urine. So, for checking fecal contamination of the water resources microbiological testing of water came into existence to detect coliforms in drinking water indicating fecal contamination. But, further researched proved that the chances of surviving virus outside of the body were almost negligible. Then, further study also proved that, the virus is deactivated within few minutes of being in water.

In recent Ebola outbreak nearby 28,500 people were infected and around 11,300 died due to it. Hence, it is clear that with continuous phenomenal collective efforts by various communities the goal of Ebola-free Liberia was successfully achieved and also, 200 volunteers completed Ebola trial test. When the outbreak was observed, to control over it the US-joint Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccines in Liberia (PREVAIL) clinical trial tests were conducted. Last week 200 of them were certified only after one year of observation confirming absence of any symptoms. This clinical trial was also a part of efforts to stop Ebola disease spread and prevent frequent outbreaks. Also, on top of it, an independent commission of 17 experts in public health, research and finance have been appointed for greater global investment in preventing future epidemics.