It has taken a while for the current epidemic of the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), which is centered in West Africa,
to reach America. The current outbreak
of the disease was discovered in March 2013.
Subsequently, it was determined to have started in Guinea in December 2013. Since
then it spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone,
Nigeria
and Senegal.
It took nine months, but yesterday, the first
case was confirmed in the United States. It was bound to happen; just a matter of time. It’s a small
world; frequent transcontinental travel heightens exposure and ensures elevated
instances of that exposure to persons carrying the virus. This is especially true in countries
experiencing an outbreak. The disease,
while not highly contagious, is exceptionally infectious.
The disease is
caused by the Ebola virus (EBOV). It may be acquired via contact with blood or bodily fluids of infected
animals. There are no documented cases
of the disease spreading through the air.
Once human infection occurs, the disease may spread between people, as
well.
Male
survivors may be able to transmit the disease via semen for nearly two
months. To make the diagnosis, typically other diseases with similar symptoms
such as cholera, typhoid fever, malaria,
cholera and other viral
hemorrhagic fevers are first excluded. To confirm the diagnosis,
blood samples are tested for viral antibodies, viral RNA, or the virus itself. Ebola
causes viral hemorrhagic fever, which can affect multiple organ systems in the
body and is often accompanied by bleeding.
Early symptoms include sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain,
headaches and a sore throat
Previously,
two high profile cases of American exposure occurred when American health
missionaries, Dr. Kent Brantly, of Ft. Worth, Texas, and Charlottean, Nancy
Writebol, contracted the virus in July while working with the Charlotte-based
SIM missionary group to treat Ebola patients in Liberia. Both were treated with an experimental drug, and
then transferred separately to Emory Hospital in Atlanta. Both have subsequently been determined to be
Ebola-free.
Now comes word
from U.S. health officials (yesterday) that a yet-to-be-named American man is
the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the United States. This person is being treated in Dallas,
Texas.
The
unidentified man left Liberia September 19th, and arrived in in the
United States September 20th, according to Dr. Thomas Frieden,
Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the time of his arrival in the U.S., the
man did not have symptoms. However, four
or five days later, he began to exhibit them.
He has been hospitalized and isolated at Texas Health Presbyterian
Hospital since Sunday. Health officials,
pointing to privacy concerns, declined to release any details about how the
patient contracted the virus, what he was doing in Liberia, or the parameters
of his treatment plan. Dr. Edward Goodman,
of the hospital said, "I can say he
is ill. He is under intensive care."
Because of the nature
of spreading the virus, authorities do not suspect that passengers on the
patient’s flight are at risk. However,
the patient did indicate he had direct contact with several people after he
became symptomatic. Medical officials
are contacting those people for follow-up.
The crew that transported him to the hospital is being held in
isolation. None had shown symptoms of
the disease as of yesterday.
Dr. Frieden downplayed the
risk to public health. No other
suspected cases of Ebola have been identified in Texas. He noted, "It's a severe disease, which
has a high-case fatality rate, even with the best of care, but there are core,
tried and true public health interventions that stop it. The bottom line here is that I have no doubt
that we will control this importation or this case of Ebola so that it does not
spread widely in this country."
For months we have watched
as the news of this disease has been discussed, primarily as though it were
just another African malady. Well, those
days are over. Coming To America: Actually, Ebola is Here…and Now!
I’m done; holla back!
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