Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: New Ebola Virus found in Congo

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Runescape News and General & Skill Guides
    Posts
    2,544
    Mentioned
    37 Post(s)
    Quoted
    545 Post(s)

    Default New Ebola Virus found in Congo

    2nd strain of ebola, different from the first, has been found
    http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle...279344302.html
    A second, smaller Ebola outbreak has been going on in Africa, and a new study shows it has a different source in nature than the massive epidemic raging now in the western part of the continent.

    The outbreak that began in July in the Democratic Republic of Congo is similar to earlier ones in that central African region, genetic testing of viruses shows. At least 69 people, including eight health workers, are believed to have been infected, and 49 have died.

    The study was led by the World Health Organization and researchers from France and Canada. It was published online Wednesday by the New England Journal of Medicine.

    Ebola first appeared in 1976 in Congo and has caused periodic outbreaks there and in other central African countries. It had not been detected in West Africa until the current epidemic — the worst ever of Ebola — began earlier this year.

    So far, more than 8,900 people have been infected and more than 4,400 have died, mostly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Officials say the epidemic is not even close to being brought under control.

    Health experts think the initial cases in each outbreak got it from eating or handling Ebola-infected animals, then spread it person-to-person. The exact source in nature has not been proved but the leading suspect is a certain type of fruit bat.

    Other animals can be infected and may spread the disease. The WHO says chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines might play a role. Even pig farms may amplify infection because of fruit bats on farms.

    For the new study, researchers analyzed viruses from the current Congo outbreak and found them extremely similar to a Zaire Ebola strain that caused previous outbreaks in the Congo region. The virus is different from the Zaire strain causing the larger epidemic in West Africa, suggesting that a separate source in nature seeded each outbreak.

    Still, officials say that getting Ebola from an animal is a much smaller risk than catching it from an infected person once an outbreak is ongoing. The research on the viruses may help pinpoint the animal sources and prevent future cases.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    2,147
    Mentioned
    221 Post(s)
    Quoted
    1068 Post(s)

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    Irvine, CA
    Posts
    2,873
    Mentioned
    8 Post(s)
    Quoted
    138 Post(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Clarity View Post
    A student at my university was admitted to hospital for Ebola today. I thought I was so far away from this problem but now I'm kind of worried.
    That's crazy man. But at the same time you still are very far from the issue, it takes fluid exchange to transfer Ebola. So don't do anything stupid and don't be a med student and you'll be okay!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    2,147
    Mentioned
    221 Post(s)
    Quoted
    1068 Post(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by TomTuff View Post
    That's crazy man. But at the same time you still are very far from the issue, it takes fluid exchange to transfer Ebola. So don't do anything stupid and don't be a med student and you'll be okay!
    Fluid transmission includes micro droplets inhaled from sneezes and coughs. But yeah you're right. The world isn't falling apart yet

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Posts
    1,596
    Mentioned
    78 Post(s)
    Quoted
    826 Post(s)

    Default

    Clearly y'all have never seen Outbreak. We just need to find the monkey and this will all be over.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Shaolin
    Posts
    863
    Mentioned
    24 Post(s)
    Quoted
    519 Post(s)

    Default

    le wild ebola appears:

    > Attack
    > Catch
    > Run
    > Options
    You have permission to steal anything I've ever made...

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    United States
    Posts
    960
    Mentioned
    21 Post(s)
    Quoted
    504 Post(s)

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Wu-Tang Clan View Post
    le wild ebola appears:

    > Attack
    > Catch
    > Run
    > Options
    What?
    EBOLA is evolving!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
    Posts
    85
    Mentioned
    5 Post(s)
    Quoted
    22 Post(s)

    Default

    It really is not surprising people would eat infected animals in places in Africa. Kind of hard to fault them for it considering their food problem. On the same token, it is hard to say what is overreacting and what is appropriate. It would suck if it spread to major US cities, probably would test our health infrastructure a lot if a number of people got it.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Posts
    2,147
    Mentioned
    221 Post(s)
    Quoted
    1068 Post(s)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Location
    Runescape News and General & Skill Guides
    Posts
    2,544
    Mentioned
    37 Post(s)
    Quoted
    545 Post(s)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •