The Ebola virus has dominated the news cycles these past few months. The epidemic is terrifying, humbling, and, interestingly enough, serves to remind us that we are indeed part of the natural world, whether we like it or not. Let’s discus Ebola and how it demonstrates the unavoidable relationship between animals and humans.
What is Ebola?
iThe Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a virus that is transmitted from animals to humans. Tragically, this disease is often fatal in humans, with a 90% case fatality rate. For the most part, outbreaks occur in rural villages in Central and West Africa. Other outbreaks have been documented in China and the Philippines. It is believed that fruit bats from the Pteropodidae family are the natural host of the virus. There are currently five known strains of the virus, three of which have caused large outbreaks in Africa and another that has been documented in China and the Philippines.1
Ebola was first discovered in 1976 when two outbreaks, one in Sudan and one in the Democratic Republic of Congo, occurred simultaneously. In Africa, Ebola has been documented in fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope, and porcupines. In China and the Philippines, the virus has appeared in pigs and monkeys. The virus is transmitted to humans when humans come into direct contact (e.g. open wounds) with the bodily fluids of an infected animal. The virus is then passed human-to-human via direct contact or indirect contact, such as touching a surface contaminated with infected fluids. Examples of human-to-human transmission also include burial ceremonies where mourners are in direct contact with the infected deceased and a healthy person having intercourse with someone infected with the virus. Studies have shown that a man who has recovered from Ebola may continue to pass along the virus via his semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery.2
Ebola’s incubation period—which is the period of time between when a person contracts the virus and when they begin showing symptoms—ranges from 2 to 21 days. Preliminary symptoms include sudden fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. These symptoms are then usually followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, decreased kidney and liver function, and internal or external bleeding. Patients also suffer from extreme dehydration. However, many of these symptoms are common for other diseases, such as malaria, typhoid fever, and meningitis, making Ebola at times hard to diagnose. Usually, the virus is confirmed through laboratory tests. Currently, there is no vaccine for Ebola, although some are in the process of being created.3
Prevention Tactics
It is possible that the geographic distribution of Ebola overlaps with that of the fruit bats.4 That being said, how can humans work to prevent the spread of Ebola? It is foremost important to limit contact with infected animals (such as chimpanzees or gorillas). Humans should handle animals with protective gloves and should cook all animal products thoroughly before eating.5
Many suspect that West Africans’ consumption of bush meat, the meat of wild African animals, is the cause of animal-to-human transmission of the virus. West Africans have relied on bush meat as a source of sustenance in the place of domesticated animals for centuries. Many have called for a halt of bush meat consumption in areas known to have Ebola. However, this is easier said than done. Sâa Fela Léno from Guinea explained, “Life is not easy here in the village… Animal husbandry is not widespread here because bush meat is easily available. Banning bush meat means a new way of life, which is unrealistic.”6 The people most at risk are the bush meat hunters and the preparers of bush meat; once the meat is cooked or smoked, there is no risk of contracting the virus. It is also worth noting that animals with Ebola might be more likely to be caught because they are weakened from the disease. Unfortunately, there are not many other sources of protein in these communities.
Looking Forward
What is concerning scientists about this latest Ebola outbreak is that instead of occurring in the Central African countries that it normally occurs in—Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, and Gabon—this particular strain has shown up in West African countries—Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone—where it never has been before. Scientists are unsure if infected fruit bats have flown from Central to West Africa, or if the Ebola slowly made its way West via infecting host animals along the way.7 There is concern that part of this change is due to . Ebola is just one example of animal-to-human transmitted disease, but it serves as a potent reminder that we as humans are not larger than life and are very influenced by our environments.
