Deadly Ebola virus spreads; leaves half of those infected dead!

New Delhi: According to the World Health Organization, more than 1,300 people in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone have contracted Ebola since March. This has unanimously made it the biggest outbreak on record. It is being said that more than half of those infected have died. DailyBhaskar brings to you the know-how of this deadly disease. Is the outbreak worldwide? No, as of now it’s widely spread in parts of Africa. Conakry, Freetown, Kolo Bengou, Monrovia are reported to be areas where the disease has broken. Is this the worst? Yes, it is the deadliest. It has eclipsed an outbreak in 1976, which was the year the virus was discovered. Where does Ebola come from? When it was discovered in 1976, it was thought to come from the gorillas. It is said that humans contracted the disease after they ate gorilla meat. However, after careful consideration scientists now believe that bats are the reason why this virus spreads. The disease spreads after a human or any other animal consumes food which has been defecated on by the bats. Is the virus contagious? In a lot of ways it is. But a person is unlikely to catch it by just sitting next to someone whoi has the virus. It only spreads through direct contact with body fluids of the infected person. Fluids like blood, sweat, vomit. Many health workers are at risk. It is also imperative to note that the virus survives on surfaces. Why is Ebola so difficult to control? Many in Africa believe that saying ‘Ebola’ makes it disappear. Such beliefs have made it impossible for doctors to combat the disease. Is there a cure? There is no vaccine or cure for Ebola, and majorly the virus has been fatal in almost all cases. However, a small percentage of people have been found to have immunity to the Ebola virus. (Image: Health workers carry the body of a woman who died of Ebola/Reuters)