In other news...

As an Aspiring microbiologist one of my favorite viruses EVER...is EBOLA. For those of you who know think this is a brand name for a fashion label here is a small quip from the CDC:

What is Ebola hemorrhagic fever? Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976. The disease is caused by infection with Ebola virus, named after a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) in Africa, where it was first recognized. The virus is one of two members of a family of RNA viruses called the Filoviridae. There are five identified subtypes of Ebola virus. Four of the five have caused disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast and Ebola-Bundibugyo. The fifth, Ebola-Reston, has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans. 

How is Ebola virus spread? 

Infections with Ebola virus are acute. There is no carrier state. Because the natural reservoir of the virus is unknown, the manner in which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an outbreak has not been determined. However, researchers have hypothesized that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal. 

After the first case-patient in an outbreak setting is infected, the virus can be transmitted in several ways. People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood and/or secretions of an infected person. Thus, the virus is often spread through families and friends because they come in close contact with such secretions when caring for infected persons. People can also be exposed to Ebola virus through contact with objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with infected secretions. 

Nosocomial transmission refers to the spread of a disease within a health-care setting, such as a clinic or hospital. It occurs frequently during Ebola HF outbreaks. It includes both types of transmission described above. In African health-care facilities, patients are often cared for without the use of a mask, gown, or gloves. Exposure to the virus has occurred when health care workers treated individuals with Ebola HF without wearing these types of protective clothing. In addition, when needles or syringes are used, they may not be of the disposable type, or may not have been sterilized, but only rinsed before reinsertion into multi-use vials of medicine. If needles or syringes become contaminated with virus and are then reused, numerous people can become infected. 

The following information was received from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/spb/mnpages/dispages/Fact_Sheets/Ebola_Fact_Booklet.pdf

I think I was in high school when I first heard about this virus and watched a video on how EBOLA Zaire was treated using the blood of those who had been infected and survived..so it was in some essence a vaccine. Of course there were several things that could go wrong with this for example if patients whose blood were used had aids ...potential transmission of that disease. I think I wanted to eventually work for the CDC and become one of those people who traveled to countries such as Zaire or the Congo and help control the disease epidemic.

So it would make sense that when i was browsing through Yahoo's homepage I found this news clip (because yahoo news is the most reliable news out there...):

http://news.yahoo.com/ebola-death-toll-doubles-31-congo-121450941.html

Do you have a favorite disease state? (what an odd question...leave a comment!)