Pictured: Ebola Virus

Part 1: Uncover the

secrets of Ebola
Simran Johal
12Kent

What is Ebola?
The Ebola virus is one of 5 viruses that belong to
the genus Ebolavirus.
4 of these viruses will cause Ebola Virus
Disease, a type of hemorrhagic fever which is in
many cases fatal to humans.
The disease takes it name from the village near
by the Ebola River.
Morality Rate: 83-90%
Ebola first occurred in 1976, within the
countries: Sudan and the Democratic Republic of
Congo
Overall (throughout history), Ebola has caused
the deaths of 12,781

How Ebola works

Ebola is a RNA virus. The virus
proliferates by invading host
cells, injecting its RNA and
disabling their protective
mechanisms, effectively
reprogramming the cell to
manufacture Ebola viruses.

There have been multiple Ebola outbreaks in

the past, however none have been more
deadly and widespread as the current
outbreak in West Africa (Total Deaths (as of
June 14, 2015 CDC:

How is it spread?

The Natural
Reservoir of the
Ebola Virus is
The virus originally spread to humans from the probable unclear. However
ingestion of wild animals (bush meat) such as Monkeys, the most likely
contender is the
Gorillas, Chimpanzees, Fruit Bats and forest antelope.
fruit bat.

Transmission from Human to Human:

Mainly via direct contact:
1. Bodily fluids: Blood, sweat, urine,
vomit, breastmilk, faeces, etc.
2. Objects contaminated by the
Virus, e.g. needles and syringes.
Needle stick or un
3. Being in contact with dead
bodies. Funeral mourners are
particularly at risk
4. Through the broken skin of an
uninfected person
Other methods of contraction:
5. Contact with surfaces/ materials
contaminated with the fluids
mentioned above.

Ebola is an especially
deadly virus as people
whom have recovered from
Ebola may still be
infectious for 7 weeks.
Dead bodies: This is the
period where the body is
most infectious
Ebola is not an air borne
disease and needs direct
bodily contact.
However, when fluids in large
droplets make contact with the
eyes, mouth, nose or cut of an
uninfected person from a
infected person, this may
transmit the Ebola virus.

Transmission

What effects does it have on the body- Symptoms

Ebola is quite difficult to diagnose and many of

its symptoms are similar to that of the influenza
virus, a common seasonal disease.
Symptoms usually start
between 2-21 days
Victims of Ebola also suffer
internal bleeding as the
Ebola virus directly attacks
the immune system,
causing internal blood
vessels to become more
leaky.

The Liver is prone to internal

bleeding and organ failure
starts to occur.
You will become seriously
dehydrated when Ebola
reaches fatal stages.

Ebola impact on communities

People are afraid

to make contact
with other people
out of fear of
contracting the
disease
themselves.

Countries in west
Africa that have just
come out of civil wars
(i.e. Liberia) are
coping with feelings
of insecurity and
anxiety

Groups: UNICEF
Medecins Sans Frontieres

Family breakups may

occur once people find
out a member of their
family has been
infected and has to be
sent of to a far off
hospital

Peopl
e

Children can be
orphaned and many
will have to cope
with the loss of a
loved one.

Ebola victims will not be

able to work to provide
their families with food
and money to pay
expenses. Vulnerable
people will become more
vulnerable.

These children urgently need special attention and

support; yet many of them feel unwanted and even
abandoned. Orphans are usually taken in by a member of
the extended family, but in some communities, the fear
surrounding Ebola is becoming stronger than family ties.
Manuel Fountaine, UNICEF Regional Director for West and

Impacts: Social, Economic or

Environmental
EconomicEbola has lead to reduced growth rates
and increased inflammation. The work
force of countries in West Africa, is falling
due to deaths.

Demand
has
fallen
as export falls (closure
Increased usage of
of
market
borders),
investment is
maternal health clinics
deterred
(FDI
falls
to zero).
has resulted in the

Estimated
reduced
GDP
growth:
Liberia
number of households
by
2.2%,
Guinea
by
2.3%
and
Sierra
reporting birth in a
Leone by 1.7%. Fall in mineral prices may
hospital or clinic.
have contributed to this. The Tonkolili
(positive)
Mine ceased production in Dec 2014.
Average hotel occupancy rates have
fallen from 80% before the outbreak to
40% currently, due to governments
Socialadvising against foreign nationals
The fear of infection has broken
down
travelling
to epidemic affected countries.
whatever social unity there
was
Rise in
theinprices (inflammation) essential
communities that are now plagued by commodities

Ebola.
Households struggling to cope with
events, no option but to sell up their
assets, which increases their
vulnerability.
Schools have been shut for months
Children are orphaned
In Kono, Sierra Leone bans placed on
wild plats and bush meat have meant
that people are struggling to feed
themselves. Nor can they use these
plants for medicinal purposes .

Environmental/
Political-

Region in crisis: West Africa

The Ebola crisis has put all 3 of these West African countries into economic paralysis,
however as of now their economies are slowly starting to recover. Here are some od
the main social/ economic impacts the have arose in each country due to Ebola:

Sierra Leone-

Iron ore miming industry deeply impacted with the 40% drop
in global iron prices and inflation. There have been knock on effects on the
countries micro- economy suppressing informal livelihood opportunities for poor
people.

Guinea-

has suffered major losses in its transport sector; 1,500 jobs lost.
Teachers and administrative officers were made redundant as many children
stopped coming to school during the height of the outbreak.

Liberia-

Weak infrastructure and poor

transportation systems have constrained the

growth of agriculture markets in Liberia
throughout the post-war recovery period and
the additional limitations brought by Ebola
policies have magnified these barriers to trade.

The world bank estimates that the

Ebola outbreak could cost West
Africa 20.3 billion by the end of
2015.

Total suspected, probable, and confirmed cases of Ebola virus

disease in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone by WHO Situation
Report

The gradient is
decreasing now as
opposed from the
October 2014 to January
2015 period. This
indicated that people are
now on the road to
recovery and the
outbreak will soon be

Bibliography
Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ebola_virus
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
http://www.cdc.gov
http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/nov/04/ebolasierra-leone-small-scale-mining-sector-catastropic-consequences
Geofiles

Books
Reports