The Ebola Virus

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The Ebola Virus is an extremely deadly virus found in Africa. There have been multiple outbreaks across Africa and one in the United States. The Ebola virus basically causes uncontrollable bleeding externally and internally. Then your organs become liquefied. This usually results in death(www.encyclopedia.com). The following report contains info on the characteristics and history of the Ebola Virus.

After being infected with the Ebola virus it takes 2-21 days to take effect. It depends if you had a direct infection, such as a hypodermic needle or a syringe, or a less direct infection, such as close contact(www.lfc.edu/`musilam/bio3.html 3). This is just enough time to get on a plane and spread it to people in another area. This could result in an outbreak in other parts of the world. There have been no known cases of this happening though (www.uct.ac.za/microbiology/sanchez.htm 2).

The Ebola virus has severe and disgusting symptoms. After the time it takes to take effect the Ebola virus starts out by showing symptoms like the flu. You develop a sore throat, fever, weakness, muscle pain, and headaches. As the virus progresses vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and limited kidney and liver function. After about 14 days of infection, bleeding becomes uncontrollable. Blood passes through eyes, lips, nose, ears, and skin. You also experience mental confusion (www.bates.edu/`tnorswor/index.html).

The Ebola virus has effects on your internal body as well. You would also experience internal bleeding. After about five days of infection your internal organs basically liquefy. The Ebola virus destroys the cells in your liver and the lining of all internal organs. At this point you will most likely die of the virus. The people who survive the virus usually had a less direct infection like close contact.

The Ebola virus transmits easily from person to person. Most people get the Ebola virus from close contact. The Ebola virus has cells on the infected person's skin, then if you touch the person and touch an opening on your body, such as your mouth, you can be infected. This frequently occurs to hospital care workers before the patients are diagnosed with Ebola. Also family members who care for the infected person without the aid of a hospital often get Ebola.

Bodily fluids such as blood, vomit, secretions, or semen also transmit Ebola. People who clean this up ma...

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...d the disease from an infected chimpanzee in the forest. She was sent to a Swiss hospital where she recovered. An autopsy of the Chimpanzee showed effects similar to the Ebola virus.

The Ebola virus is a member of a family of RNA viruses know as Filoviruses, because they resemble thread. Filoviruses are among the most mysterious viruses in the world because their natural history remain unknown and their pathogenesis poorly understood. The family consists of Ebola and Marburg viruses. Marburg and Ebola both cause hemorrhagic fevers (www.encyclopedia.com).

Bibliography

An Ebola virus Risk Assessment- www.outbreak.org/cgi~unreg/dynaserve.exe/Ebola/risk.html

Death in 20 days-www.bates.edu/~tnorswor/index.html

Ebola the history-www.lfc.edu/~musilam/bio3.html

Ebola Virus-www.nyu/education/mindsinmotion/Ebola/viro.html

Ebola Virus Headquarters-www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/5738

Reemergence of Ebola Virus in Africa- www.uct.ac.za/microbiology/sanchez.html

Deadly Ebola Virus a fact of life in Gabon- www.cnn.com/WORLD/9704?26/gabon.ebola

The Ebola Virus-www.indep.k12.mo.us/ths/student/evans/evans1.html

Ebola-www.netLibrary.com

Ebola-www.encyclopedia.com

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