Can Ebola be a pandemic here in America? Sure.  And I think a pandemic is really something to worry about. But when it comes to Ebola out breaking in America… I do not see it ending society or even the world as we know it. Isolation and good hygiene lock Ebola away and kill the spread of infection. Between good hygiene and avoidance there isn’t too much to worry about. Don’t get the wrong idea now… Ebola will kill you and you family easily enough. But unless it becomes airborne (think the black plague) there really isn’t much to worry about. Prepping for Ebola involves staying clean. I think the worst is over. If it comes to your area isolate your family until it passes.

Moving on. Here is a bit more about Ebola.

Ebola, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever. This is a severe and often times fatal disease in humans and non human primates. There are a total of five Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers presently known to us.

Ebola in Humans

Humans are not the natural hosts for this disease, animals are. Humans can pass it to other humans. The professionals feel that all outbreaks initially come from an infected animal. Infected animals can pass the disease to humans and non human primates such as gorillas, cynomolgus monkeys, chimpanzees and forest antelopes. Experts believe bats are another possible carrier and also that they can carry the disease with out showing any signs and may even have an immunity to it.

When a person becomes infected they can pass the disease to other humans through bodily fluids. Blood, saliva, mucus and other bodily fluids share this disease. Often health care workers are the first people to be infected when the outbreak occurs. Mainly because the disease often mimics other diseases and its not until advanced symptoms materialize that they realize they are dealing with Ebola. If there were a way that Ebola could be detected earlier on health workers could then take preventative measures to eliminate the spread of the outbreak.

Between 2 and 21 days. This is the incubation period in humans. Males who successfully recover from Ebola can still transmit the disease through semen for up to 7 weeks after recovery. You also have to be in very close contact to the infected person or animal to contact the disease.  Needles that are contaminated can also spread the Ebola Virus.

All bedding and clothing of a contaminated person must be disposed of properly to help stop the spread. Personal protective equipment and measures are an absolute must when preventing the spread. Wearing protective gloves and face shields are a must. All dead bodies must be handled properly. Often times in third world countries they urge to burn all of the bodies.

In 1976 the first ever Ebola virus was discovered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo near the Ebola River. Outbreadks have surfaced periodically since then.

Strains

There are five known sub-strains of the Ebola Virus. Four of them can spread the disease in humans.

1) There is the Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus)
2) Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus)
3) Taï Forest virus (Taï Forest ebolavirus, known formerly as Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus)
4) Bundibugyo virus (Bundibugyo ebolavirus)
5) Reston virus (Reston ebolavirus). Humans appear to be immune to this strain.

Symptoms

The primary symptoms in the onset of the disease are severe headache, fever along with joint and muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and severe stomach pain. The problem being many of these symptoms can be caused by other diseases as well and can lead to misdiagnosis. This disease can also cause rashes, red eyes and internal/external bleeding. Hiccups are also associated with the disease.

Death

Studies show that up to 90% of all people infected with Ebola will die from it. There is no vaccine or cure and the only treatment is supportive therapy. Therapies such as maintaining oxygen levels and blood pressure as well as balancing bodily fluids. Also most patients are treated for infections because Ebola impairs the immune system greatly.  Antibiotics have no aid as Ebola is a virus.

Ebola in the United States

The Ebola virus has not caused any natural disease or epidemic in the United States. A scare took place in Virgina when a scientific research team became infected with a type of Ebola. The disease was passed from an imported primate however it never did cause any symptoms in humans.

Things to buy to add to your preps

I really cant recommend many items to buy in direct relation to Ebola. Just pick up some n95 masks to stash away. You can get them here.

Image via Wikipedia. Some of the information here I read up on over at http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/.