Blog #10: Ebola Lying in Wait

Summary: 

There have been some scientific clues that propose that the Ebola virus was waiting in the West African forest for decades before the epidemic swept the region taking ten thousand lives.  Some studies have suggested that Ebola antibodies were found in human blood samples in West Africa before the current outbreak.  According to Dr. Peter Piot, the director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, there is evidence that is pointing to "infection before the current epidemic." Scientist has found evidence in the human blood that proposes immune reactions to Ebola in fourteen other countries, twelve in Africa, as well as Panama and Philippines.  A team of scientists are trying to figure out where the next big outbreak will occur and twenty two nations are in the danger zone.  To help prevent these high risk Ebola epidemics, the nations prioritize the nations by their proximity to the current outbreak zone and the instability of their health system.  

Analysis: 

I think that it is necessary for scientists to try and predict where the next outbreak will occur so that we can be prepared to stop it.  It is disturbing to learn that the Ebola virus was found in the West Africa forest and the virus has been found in human blood before the outbreak occurred.  This makes me wonder what other diseases have been found elsewhere before outbreaks have happened.  Since we know more about it and studies have been performed we can hopefully prevent this epidemic of occurring again.  I also feel as if people in these countries are more educated about Ebola and knowledge will help to slow the spread if it begins again. 

 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/21/health/ebola-lying-in-wait.html?ref=health

Kelsey Bryant

4/24/15

5:38pm

Blog #9: Ebola Researchers Take New Look at Risk of Sexual Transmission

Summary:
There are studies being conducted to determine how often and how long the virus stays active in semen.  Until they get some answers and get concrete results from these studies they are advising Ebola survivors to have practice safe sex, which means wear protection.  Since there is a decrease in new cases from all three countries researchers are investigating two women bodies that died in the last month from this disease.  The women had no known risk factors but something they did have in common was that their male partners had survived Ebola last year.  This information made researchers think that maybe Ebola does last longer in semen then we originally thought.  Public health officials have had many difficult times through fighting the outbreak of Ebola; from changing burial practices to letting medical staff treat the infected patients.  WHO guidelines strongly recommend against isolating survivors when the virus is not found in their bloodstream.  According to what we already know, it is advised to practice safe sex three months after recovery.


Analysis:
If these studies show that semen actually has this virus in it longer than we anticipated then it could start up another outbreak in all three countries.  If more and more people are having unprotected sex with Ebola survivors then the chances are greater of more people contracting this disease and the cycle starting up again.  With different studies being conducted by different organizations and science fields this can provide more information for society.  With more education on how to prevent the spread of Ebola then less cases will be discovered and fewer people in these African countries will be affected.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/17/world/africa/ebola-researchers-take-new-look-at-risk-of-sexual-transmission.html

Kelsey Bryant
4/17/15
8:34pm

Blog #8: Two New Ebola Vaccines Pass Important Early Tests

Summary:
Two new Ebola Vaccines have passed several tests protecting monkeys from this deadly strain that is responsible for this outbreak.  Only one dose was needed for protection and no side effects were noticed.  Ebola expert Thomas Geisbert from the University of Texas Medical Branch has stated that these vaccines have not been tested in humans yet.  Starting early this summer they will start trials of healthy volunteers to be given this vaccine for further testing.  On the twenty eighth day after the vaccine was given the monkeys were injected with the Ebola virus from the current outbreak.  The monkeys that received the vaccine did not have any side effects and survived, whereas the monkeys that were not given the vaccine died within a week from the virus Ebola.  These two new vaccines are improved versions of the two older ones that caused unpleasant side effects such as fever and pain in joints and muscles.  The side effects from this vaccine can pose a problem during an outbreak because they imitate early symptoms of Ebola. Patients that get a fever after they have been injected with the vaccine would have to be tested or put into quarantine until it can be determined if they are having a reaction to the shot or actually have the disease.

Analysis:
I think it is great that two more vaccines are being tested and have been found to make a difference in preventing this horrible disease.  I am also grateful that the company has received 55 million dollars to continue research for Ebola vaccines.  Using monkeys to test this vaccine is a wonderful idea to see how it affects human since our bodies are similar.  With this testing going on I think that these vaccines will start being used soon so this outbreak can end.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/health/2-new-ebola-vaccines-pass-important-early-test-researchers-say.html?ref=health&_r=0

Kelsey Bryant
4/10/15
2:20pm

Blog #7: Ebola Vaccine Trials Underway in West Africa

Summary:
Over 10,000 people have lost their lives to the disease Ebola in West Africa.  Since the Ebola outbreak last summer scientists have rushed to get anti- Ebola vaccines into clinical trials.  Some scientists are saying they are seeing strong results from some of the different studies.  A vaccine candidate is currently being tested in Guinea.  Medical workers who have been exposed to this disease are likely to get this new vaccine.  Since Liberia has less new cases developing the clinical vaccine started there will be continued in Guinea and Sierra Leone.  Dr. Mark Mulligan treated a doctor from the US that was exposed to the disease while in Sierra Leone with one of the new vaccines.  Mulligan stated that "there was evidence of strong and immediate immune system  responses, the first defenders in our body, and also from antibodies and T cells that we want a vaccine to produce".  Three of the five different strains of Ebola can cause disease and morbidity towards humans.

Analysis:
I believe that we are one step closer to finding a cure for this horrible disease that keeps claiming people's lives.  Also this new vaccine will help this disease from spreading so rapidly.  The main problem they are having is that there are five different strains of Ebola floating around and one vaccine could only treat and prevent that one type.  There is still a lot more testing and comparing of results to be done until this vaccine is safe to administrator.  Dr Jesse Goodman says "It could benefit people if this outbreak went the wrong way again.  These could be incredibly important tools for the future outbreaks".  With this new research we are one step closer to finding the answer of how to stop Ebola in its tracks.

http://www.voanews.com/content/ebola-vaccine-trials-underway-in-west-africa/2700665.html

Kelsey Bryant
4/3/15
8:37pm

Blog #6: Exposure Concerns Grow in Liberia After Diagnosis of First Ebola Case in Weeks

Summary:
There appears to be worries that people have been exposed to Ebola when there has been no new cases reported in the last two weeks.  The patient Ruth Tugbah age 44 has been in contact with her pastor and children when she had a fever and was contagious.  She indeed tested positive for Ebola and ended the hope that Liberia would be the first of the three western African countries to emerge from this horrible epidemic.  More than 10,000 people have died from this disease in the last year from Liberia, New Guinea, and Sierra Leone.  So far Liberia has made the most progress toward recovery. Ebola response officials expressed concern for the students that attended the school that Ms. Tugbah had sold food when she had this fever.  The school has 1,904 students enrolled and is worried they might be exposed to this disease.  The Liberian government thinks that how she contracted Ebola was by having sex with her boyfriend that was an Ebola survivor.  Some studies show that the Ebola disease can stay inside semen for up to 86 days and advise the patients to practice abstinence for three months or use condoms.

Analysis:
I believe that a better measure should be practiced on educating people about different ways that they can contract the disease.  If they are educated or if they know that Ebola can be spread through having unprotected sex then less cases will be discovered.  There is more than one attempt to solve the spread of this disease.  Instead of telling the survivors of the risks of this disease make them more public so everyone can know about different precautions to take.  Also having people recognize that having a fever means you can contaminate anyone you are around during that specific time would also cut down cases.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/25/world/africa/exposure-concerns-grow-in-liberia-after-diagnosis-of-first-ebola-case-in-weeks.html?ref=health&_r=2

Kelsey Bryant
3/27/15
11:48pm

Blog #5: Tuberculosis And Superbug Strains 'Ravaging' Europe, WHO Warns

Summary:
Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial lung disease that occurs mainly in areas of poverty and deprivation and spreads through warm moist droplets of an infected individual.  Some examples of how someone can spread this disease is through sneezing and coughing.  This disease is hard to treat because there are so many restraint strains floating around.  The antibiotics used to treat TB can take months to work.  In 2013 the World Health Organization reported that Tuberculosis killed around 1.5 million people worldwide.  Countries with larger TB problems also have higher rates of re-infection and report a lot more cases of multi-drug resistant TB. The main goal is to eliminate Tuberculosis from the European region by 2050.

Analysis:
Tuberculosis seems like it spreads like wild fire and once it starts it is very difficult to stop.  The article states that it mainly spreads in areas that are in poverty and this can affect developed and non-developed countries.  Some people that live in poverty do not live in the cleanest way and normally live in closer proximity to other poor families.  Also people that live in poverty are less likely to have health insurance that supplies regular physicals and helps pay for drugs if they become sick.  Another thing individuals that live in poverty must pay close attention to is that if someone gets TB where they live then it will spread easily throughout the neighborhood and the city.  Individuals in poverty are normally less educated so are not aware of the fact that TB is a airborne disease.  Therefore they do not know how to properly protect their families.  Everyone needs to be educated about this disease and prevention so that it can stop spreading so quickly.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/17/tuberculosis-and-superbug_n_6885090.html

Kelsey Bryant
3/20/15
7:16pm

Blog #4: Last Known Ebola Patient in Liberia is Discharged

Summary:
As of Thursday Liberia's last patient was discharged bringing the count down to zero known cases of Ebola in the country.  Even though this is something to celebrate they are still weeks away from being able to declare free of Ebola.  Someone can be exposed to this disease and not start showing symptoms until 21 days later.  In order for Liberia to be officially over this epidemic they have to wait 42 days after the last known infection.  The patient that was release was Beatrice who is a English teacher and is 58 years old.  She was released from a treatment center in Monrovia built by the Chinese government.  While Liberia is on their way to stopping this disease from spreading, Sir Lanka and Guinea are still having Ebola spread.

Analysis:
After reading this, I can see that numbers are starting to decrease in Liberia, but seems like they are still increasing in Sir Lanka and Guinea.  If no new cases are developed within those 42 days then hopefully Liberia can help to stop the spread of the disease in the rest of Africa's countries.  The people that are being treated are very grateful for the help they are receiving to be cured of this contagious disease. Also after reading this article it is apparent that many victims are getting Ebola from their family members.  Other nations are trying to help stop this disease by bringing in people to educate and treat patients.  For example, US have brought in troops and doctors to help control the spread of Ebola.  Also the Chinese government built a treatment center in Monrovia.  This shows that when other nations are in need of help, more developed countries step in to help take control of the situation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/06/world/africa/last-ebola-patient-in-liberia-beatrice-yardolo-discharged-from-treatment.html?ref=world&_r=0

Kelsey Bryant
3/6/15
2:38pm

Blog #3: Health groups say AIDS No. 1 killer of adolescents in Africa

Summary:
The article begins by telling us that a 16 year old Kenyan girl has contracted AIDS.  Her mother had died when she was six years old and she was doing anything she could to provide for her younger sisters.  This led her to have sexual relations with many different men.  Global Health Organizations stated that AIDS is now the leading causing of death for adolescents in Africa and is the second cause globally.  About 120,000 people aged between 10-19 years died of AIDS related illness in 2013.  The most affected in the world are Sub- Sahara Africa adolescent girls.  In South Africa in 2013 more than 860 girls became infected with HIV every week, compared to 170 boys.  Social- economic factors see girls having sex at younger ages.  They also might try to date an older man to provide for them which can make them more likely to experience sexual abuse and rape.  UNAIDS said it aims to reduce HIV infections in adolescents by 75 percent, and AIDS- related deaths by 65 percent by 2020. They plan to conquer this by providing more counseling and education outreach to a targeted adolescent age-range globally.

Analysis:
I believe it is very sad that these young girls were not taught about the effects of AIDS and all of the STDs they can contract from having unprotected sex.  I think that if the girls were taught how to use condoms or were at least aware before having sex how horrible this disease is then they would make different choices in their life.  If the girls realize they can make a living off of something other than having sex with different men then it can allow them to live a longer and healthier life.  I think what UNAIDS is striving to do is a great thing and hopefully will help reduce the number of AIDS contracted by young girls.  A little bit of education can go a long way and can save many girls lives in the future.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/groups-aids-number-1-killer-of-adolescents-in-africa/2015/02/17/8cfc7aee-b6a7-11e4-bc30-a4e75503948a_story.html

Kelsey Bryant

2/20/15

11:46am

Blog # 2: New Ebola Cases Show Rise For Second Week In Row

Summary:
The number of new cases has grown in all three countries of West Africa.  This is now the second week that numbers have risen and some of these are linked from unsafe burial practices.  The World Health Organization stated on Wednesday that Sierra Leone had 76 of the 144 new cases, whereas Guinea 65 and Liberia 3.  The total of the deceased has come to 9,000 since 2013.  Even though there have been improvements in community relations and burial arrangements there is a downward shift in treating cases.  President Obama is removing all the troops in Liberia.  There will only be 100 troops remaining in west Africa in April compared to the 2,800 that have been stationed over there.  One of the main reasons that the disease is still spreading uncontrollably in Guinea is because there is mistrust of aid workers.  The goal is to have zero new cases within sixty days but that is being interfered with because patients are mistrusting aid workers.  Mourners can catch this disease by touching their dead love ones during the funeral process.  More than 40 unsafe burials have occurred during the past week.

Analysis:
There are still many things that can be done to stop these outbreaks and control the spread of this frightening disease.  People that have this disease need to let aid workers do their jobs and help them get cured from Ebola. If they do not let them help then they will probably be another victim of this outbreak.  Also there needs to be more precautions when it comes to dealing with the individuals that have died from this disease.  If the family members touch them before putting them in the ground then they are at risk of contracting it also.  I support the president's decision to remove most of the troops because there seems to be a decline overall but at the moment their is a slight increase.  By monitoring burials and having aid workers do their jobs will help and hopefully there will not be a strong need for that many troops to be over here assisting.  There are too many new cases popping up and it needs to be ceased before the number gets over 10,000 deaths.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-31429433

Kelsey Bryant
1:41am
2/13/15

Blog #1: Ebola Drug Aids Some in a Study in West Africa

Summary:
There is a new drug that has been on emergency basis for European countries but has not been used in Africa yet.  This drug is called  favipiravir and appears to interfere with the viruses ability to copy itself.  It has lowered morality to fifteen percent from thirty percent in patients with low to moderate levels of Ebola in their bloodstream.  This drug is being tested in Guinea which is one of three African countries affected by Ebola.  On Wednesday the World Health Organization reported one hundred and twenty four new cases in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. There is a demand to provide experimental therapies to everyone because there is such a high mortality rate.  Doctors predicted that the drug would be most effective in patients that got it within two to three days of experiencing symptoms.  Most patients that showed up to the study site arrived later than early signs and instead has been five days after their symptoms began.

Analysis:
I think this drug will help treat individuals that have low levels of Ebola in their system.  However, what about patients that have a higher amount of Ebola in the bloodstream?  The only hope for these patients that have higher amounts in their body is to go under a a transfusion of serum that has been collected from individuals that have had Ebola.  The serum has antibodies that can help the immune system fight off the disease.  Since there is not a definite way to treat this terrible disease everyone needs to be careful and protect themselves.  Ebola cases are growing by the day but this new drug could be a small step in the right direction in curing this disease.  This drug could help doctors and scientists figure out exactly what ingredients to put in the drug that can completely cure Ebola altogether.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/05/science/ebola-drug-has-encouraging-early-results-and-questions-follow.html?ref=africa&_r=0

Kelsey Bryant
12:24
2/6/15
 

This is a test

Kelsey Bryant
1/21/15
11:35