Ebola Summary

     In the report titled, "Ebola Viral Disease Outbreak - West Africa 2014", writers Meredith G. Dixon and Ilana J. Schafer explain the characteristics of the Ebola disease and point out the efforts to control the outbreak. The tone of the report was informative, straightforward, and tragic. First, the writers explain that the disease is characterized by the sudden onset of fever and malaise, followed by other signs and symptoms like myalgia, headaches, vomiting, and more. Next, the writers inform us that among Ebola patients, about 30% to 50% experience hemorrhagic symptoms. In severe and fatal forms, multiorgan dysfuction that includes hepatic damage, renal failure, and central nervous system involvement occur that leads to death. Also, the writers inform us the keys to control the disease. The keys include isolation of patients from the community to prevent the virus from spreading, identifying contacts of ill people, tracking the contacts daily for the whole incubation period of 21 days, and investigating of retro-perspective cases to document historic and ongoing chains of virus transmission. In addition, the writers mention that to implement prevention and control measures in both Guinea and Liberia, ministries of health organized and Ebola treatment centers to provide better patient care and interrupt virus transmission. Finally, the writers conclude by claiming what Ebola is based on, by fevers accompanied by other symptoms, and how the world is trying to put an end to it, by establishing Ebola treatment centers. 

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6325a4.htm