The Ebola Virus
INTRODUCTION
The most deadly killers on this earth are too small to see with the
naked eye. These microscopic predators are viruses. In my report, I will
answer many basic questions concerning one of the fastest killing viruses, the
Ebola virus. Questions such as "How does it infect its victims?", "How are
Ebola victims treated?", "How are Ebola outbreaks controlled?" and many others
related to this deadly virus.
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Ebola virus is a member of the negative stranded RNA viruses known
as filoviruses. There are four different strains of the Ebola virus - Zaire
(EBOZ), Sudan (EBOS), Tai (EBOT) and Reston (EBOR). They are very similar
except for small serological ...
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and diameter of the virus is
920nm and 80nm. The virons are highly variable in length (polymorphic), some
attaining lengths as long as 14000nm. The Ebola virus consists of a helical
nucleocapsid, which is a protein coat and the nucleic acid it encloses, and a
host cell membrane, which is a lipoprotein unit that surrounds the virus and
derived form the host cell's membrane. The virus is composed of 7 polypeptides,
a nucleoprotein, a glycoprotein, a polymerase and 4 other undesignated proteins.
These proteins are synthesized by mRNA that are transcribed by the RNA of the
virus. The genome consists of a single strand of negative RNA, which is
noninfectious itself. The order of it is as follows: 3' untranslated region,
nucleoprotein, viral structured protein, VP35, VP40 glycoprotein, VP30, VP24,
polymerase(L), 5' untranslated region. HOW IT INFECTS
Once the virus enters the body, it travels through the blood stream and
is replicated in many organs. The mechanism used to penetrate ...
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victims are delirious due to high fevers and many die of
intractable shock. SYMPTOMS
During the onset of Ebola, the host will experience weakness, fever,
muscle pain, headache and sore throat. As the infection progresses, vomiting
(usually black), limited kidney and liver function, chest and abdominal pain,
rash and diarrhoea begin. External bleeding from skin and injection sites and
internal bleeding from organs occur due to failure of blood to clot.
TRANSMISSION
How "patient zero" (first to be infected) acquires natural infection is
still a mystery. After the first person is infected, further spread of Ebola to
other humans (secondary transmission) is due to direct ...
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CITE THIS PAGE:
The Ebola Virus. (2006, August 10). Retrieved April 19, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Ebola-Virus/50499
"The Ebola Virus." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 10 Aug. 2006. Web. 19 Apr. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Ebola-Virus/50499>
"The Ebola Virus." Essayworld.com. August 10, 2006. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Ebola-Virus/50499.
"The Ebola Virus." Essayworld.com. August 10, 2006. Accessed April 19, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/The-Ebola-Virus/50499.
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