ZEBOV-2 The New Weapon

(Preface)

Doctors without Borders reported 11 deaths on Monday, December 29, 2008 in the Western Kasai province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The savage disease that killed 11 and infected twenty-one people was identified: Ebola Virus. Angola closed down part of their border with the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2009 to prevent the deadly disease from spreading after 24 new cases were reported.


Ebola is classified as a biosafety level 4 agent by the Centers for Disease Control. There is no approved vaccine and no treatment protocol for the heinous virus other than treating the individual symptoms as they appear. The virus is spread through bodily fluids. Filoviruses are not naturally transmitted by aerosol. They are, however, highly infectious as breathable 0.8-1.2 micron droplets in laboratory conditions; because of this potential route of infection, these viruses have been classified as Category A bioterrorism agents.

The deadliest form of the Ebola Virus is the Zaire virus (ZEBOV), formerly named Zaire Ebola Virus. It has the highest case-fatality rate between 83% and 90%. Symptoms include: abdominal pain (60-80%), fever (90%-100%), headache (40%-90%), bloody vomit (10%-40%), Maculopapular rash (it's own unique rash) (5%-20%), weakness (75%-85%), joint and muscle pain (40%-80%), inflammation of the pharynx (20%-40%), blood fails to clot (71%-78%),, CNS involvement (rare: Central Nervous System), dry and sore throat (63%), hemorrhagic diathesis (abnormal bleeding) (71%-78%), hiccups (15%), non-bloody diarrhea (81%), vomiting (59%). Purpura (hemorrhages in the skin and mucous membranes that result in the appearance of purplish spots or patches), petechia (small red or purple spot on the body, caused by a minor hemorrhage), sclerotic arterioles, and low blood-pressure are characteristic as the disease progresses.

The Zaire virus has not been reported since October 4, 2007 with the last death being reported on October 10, 2007 in the Democratic Republic of Congo with 264 cases and 187 deaths. That is a 71% fatality rate. The outbreak occurred in the Kasai Occidental Province. The outbreak was declared over on November 20 and no cases have been disclosed since!

Until now...