Ebola Virus

Background
Metadichol (1,2) is a Nano emulsion of long-chain alcohols found in many foods. It is commonly called as Policosanols. It is present in many foods like rice, sugar cane, wheat, peanuts. (3) .  It acts on Nuclear Vitamin D receptor (VDR) (2) and these are present in cells throughout the body and stimulate the immune system and inhibit a variety of disease processes, including those resulting from viral infections. (4).
Methods
We had two patients diagnosed with Dengue Fever in SE Asia who volunteered to be treated with Metadichol®. Based on the positive outcome, we then tested for antiviral activity of Metadichol® in Vero and MDCK cells infected with Dengue, Ebola, Marburg, Influenza A (H1N1), Chikungunya and Human Respiratory Syncytial viruses. In addition, we tested the efficacy of Metadichol® in preventing cell death caused by Adenovirus, Tacaribe Mammarena virus, Rift Valley Fever virus, SARS coronavirus, Japanese Encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, and Yellow Fever virus.
Findings
Metadichol rapidly helped the two dengue patients with declining platelets to fully recover from Dengue Fever within a few days. In the in vitro assays, Metadichol showed no cytotoxicity and strongly inhibited cell death caused by each of the viruses tested.
Interpretation
Metadichol is a safe and effective inhibitor of enveloped viruses in humans. Since it is known to bind to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) (2), its mechanism of action likely involves the competitive displacement of virus particles from VDR’s on host cell membranes. Metabolism studies of long chain alcohol in fibroblasts suggest that very long chain fatty alcohols, fatty aldehydes, and fatty acids are reversibly interconverted in a fatty alcohol cycle. (3). Because it consists of natural components of common foods and has no known negative side effects,

“My niece, Francila Kollie, and my cousin, Jounpu Lowea, both nurses, became infected at work. While they were able to receive treatment, they died in late July. So many of my close friends, university classmates, and colleagues have also died in recent months. Because there is no cure, we provide supportive care to patients, in the form of food, hydration, and basic treatment of symptoms. If treated early enough, their chances of survival are much better. I cannot stand aside and watch my people die. But I, along with my colleagues here, cannot fight Ebola alone. We have seen so many patients die. And they die alone, terrified, and without their loved ones at their side. We are trying to treat as many people as we can, but there are not nearly enough treatment centers and patient beds. We have to turn people away. And they are dying at our front door. Right now, as I speak, people are sitting at the gates of our centers, literally begging for their lives.  They rightly feel alone, neglected, denied – left to die a horrible, undignified death…We do not have the capacity to respond to this crisis on our own. If the international community does not stand up, we will be wiped out. We need your help. We need it now.”
Naimah Jackson, team leader, Médecins Sans Frontière’s Ebola Treatment Center, Monrovia, Address to the UN Security Council, September, 14, 2014.


The goal of this essay is to explore the ethical issues in the spread of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa between 2013 and 2015 and to develop a bio-social theological approach to health and healing in Africa. Most of the data for this essay were drawn from the report of the Independent Panel on the Global Response to Ebola. This significant study was carried out by the Harvard Global Health Institute and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine working with people from the academia, think tanks and civil society in Africa, Europe and North America. Using the bio-social approach to understanding public health, I will argue that international humanitarian failure to contain the West African EVD outbreak reinforced the negative and racialized representation of African peoples and cultures in global conversation about health, wellbeing, and the good of order. It also shows the need to a more pro-active and holistic approach to healthcare and the wellbeing of people in Africa. This scenario challenges the churches of Africa to develop the needed staff, systems, structures and stuff for effective healthcare ministry which can meet the challenges of recurrent and new epidemics like Ebola, HIV/AIDS, yellow fever as well as the tropical diseases like malaria and typhoid fever which continue to be leading causes of deaths in Africa.

dari Prespektif Human security, kekuatan militer (perang dan konflik) bukanlah ancaman, kini sudah bergeser pandangan bahwa penyakit adalah ancaman yg mngangu berbagai kestabilan ekonomi, sosail, psikis, dan Politik, , dan Ebola kini menjadai pusat perhatian global krna bertanggung jawab atas bberapa kasus kematian d Afrika dan kini sedang mngancam Asia Tenggara, bagaman ASEAN bertindak?

This study examined the use of public relations by the Lagos State Government in sensitizing its residents on the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak. Four questions were raised and answered to determine the extent to which public relations serves as a veritable platform for health communication. Descriptive survey design was adopted. A Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select a population of 400 respondents across four selected Local Governments Areas (Eti-Osa, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Ojo). An interview was also conducted with the Public relations Department of the Lagos State Ministry of Health to uncover the intricacies of the campaign.
The findings revealed a 72% awareness level about the Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). About 82% attributed their knowledge about EVD to their exposure to various public relations tools employed by Lagos State Government. Also, 84% commended positively the way the campaign was handled is commendable. The findings also revealed that the public relations tools of press conference, newsletter, and press releases were used for the campaign.  Therefore, it was recommended that public relations be adopted in health communication and indeed all government communication efforts. Also, when employing Public relations in health communication, care should be taken to ensure that only trained Public relations executives are engaged to handle health communication matters.  Also recommended, is that, Governments, especially African leaders should be proactive in providing adequate information during of health emergencies, furthermore, adequate research should be carried out before any Public relations activity is carried out. Finally the study also recommended that governments should constantly engage their citizens and update them regularly on their activities so as prevent and forestall breakdown of law and order in the society.

Today, the Ebola, and for that matter the Marburg virus have assumed general acceptance. Yet according to David Rasnick, a previous member to the Presidential AIDS Advisory Panel of South Africa, there is no convincing evidence, and “certainly no confirmatory evidence of human isolation”, in either case. This is, to be certain, not only a direct challenge that the “Ebola virus” is behind the current Ebola outbreak; but that this “virus” is pathogenic at all. Nor is Rasnick alone. To date, there has been at least one Freedom of Information Act request to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that this author is aware of mentioning, among other things: “This is a request for published records, data, studies, electron microscope photographs, work notes, and internal correspondence relating to and describing, in detail, the direct isolation of the Ebola virus from human beings.”This request has, to the present, gone unaddressed and unanswered. If the virus called Ebola is not causing the current epidemic, then what is? Historically, surrounding most outbreaks or epidemics there has been a call for vaccination, and Ebola is no different. The transient question is just what are we vaccinating for? The Swine Flu fiasco of 1976 reminds us of possible outcomes to what governments and vaccine companies are now pushing for with regard to Ebola. During that swine-flu vaccination, an attempt was made to vaccinate every American. 532 people were partially paralyzed and 32 died, and all for an epidemic that never materialized.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently declared: "Diagnosing Ebola in a person who has been infected for only a few days is difficult, because the early
symptoms, such as fever, are nonspecific to Ebola infection and are seen often in patients with more commonly occurring diseases, such as malaria and typhoid fever."

Only a sin of omission, then, would explain why anyone or any group would not want to mention specifically the most commonly occurring cause of infectious death in Africa—tuberculosis (TB)—whose sky-high rates in West Africa make Ebola look like a dropperful of water squeezed into the Mississippi.
If by October 2014 Ebola had laid claim to what the World Health Organization (WHO) claimed was well over 3,338 deaths since its March outbreak, certainly this ought to be weighed in the light of the approximately 600,000 Africans slain by TB during the same time window. Furthermore, by 20 October 2014, worldwide Ebola mortality stood at 4,868, with just over 81 per cent of these deaths recorded in Liberia and Sierra Leone. While Liberian health officials warned as early as 2009 that TB was skyrocketing out of control, a mixed scientific coalition from Sierra Leone and Germany cautioned that Sierra Leone's own tuberculosis level was not only the highest
in West Africa but was filled with resistant strains of TB and tuberculous Mycobacterium africanum which had "reached an alarming level…raising the question of possible consequences" for a future new TB epidemic.

Every year we are visited by flu season which causes illness and deaths. Whereas we should all employ all the physical precautions recommended by health authorities, we should also employ  spiritual remedy in conjunction with the physical remedy. The Prophet(SAW) not only employed physical strategy, but also made dua when dealing with challenging situations in his life. The author’s analysis suggests that the dua taught by the Prophet(SAW) when entering the toilette: “Allahumma 'innee 'a'oodho bika minal-khubthi walkhabaa'ith,” should be applicable in all places and all situations where we are exposed to harmful germs. Since flu is a season when we are highly exposed to viruses, this dua should be well suited for this season. As such we should be reciting this dua at a higher frequency, especially when we area in public places.

This document was written by Arlène Alpha and Muriel Figuié (Cirad) under the coordination of the FAO Sub-Regional  Resilience Team for West Africa/Sahel (REOWA).
It has been reviewed by Vincent Martin, Patrick David and Oriane Turot from the FAO REOWA team, and by Cheikh Ly (FAO Regional Office for Africa) and Juan Lubroth (FAO Animal Production and Health Division).  It also benefited from the contribution of Helen Roberts (APHA), Lindsay McCrickard (DAI), Jesse Bonwitt, Julien Gavelle and Philippe Kone (FAO consultants).
Also available at: http://www.fao.org/3/a-i5641e.pdf

EVD is a disease of humans and other non-human primates caused by Ebola viruses, which was
first discovered in 1976. Between 1976 and 2013 there had been 24 outbreaks of the disease. The
recent outbreak is the 26th and has seen more deaths than all other outbreaks from the disease
combined. This outbreak in West Africa occurred in five countries: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal
and Sierra Leone. In the present research article, the authors reviewed various studies and current
research on EVD. EVD was initially restricted to West Africa when the outbreak was first identified,
but later was reported in several countries around the world, including the USA. Researchers have begun to use mathematical analysis from previous outbreaks to construct the Atangana's Beta
Ebola System of Equations (ABESE), which is being used to predict the spread of future outbreaks.
The pathophysiology and transmission factors, including the basic and effective reproduction
numbers, R0 and Re are discussed in detail. Prevention and control measures, such as proper
hygiene techniques (both preventative and post-exposure), education (including educating
communities on proper burial techniques), reduction in the consumption and exposure to bushmeat,
and controlled prevention of the spread of the disease (proper personal protective equipment and
protocol upon exposure or in high-risk environments), are outlined. The history and current
outbreak are reviewed in detail, which compare the differences in previous outbreaks compared to
the current. Earlier (and less deadly) outbreaks have also been traced to the ZEBOV strain, and
researchers suggest that the evolutionary rate of gene mutations was accelerated in this current
outbreak. Death occurs in approximately 40% of affected individuals within 7-12 days after the
onset of initial symptoms and is most often associated with multi-organ failure. Researchers outline
the WHO’s criteria for screening and diagnosis, including primary, secondary and entry screening.
There is currently no cure for EDV, only supportive treatment. There are current drug trials on the
following vaccinations: ZMapp, TKM-Ebola, Favipiravir, cAd3, and VSVΔ-EBOVGP12. This review
article will attempt to summarize the current state of understanding on EVD and explore the most
recent and accepted information including epidemiology of the disease, etiology and
pathophysiology, transmission, prevention, and control, history, recent outbreaks, clinical
manifestations, screening, and diagnosis, and treatment and clinical trials.

Cet article discute de l’exceptionnalité de l’épidémie Ebola telle que vécue en Guinée-Conakry et analyse les rationalités à l’œuvre dans les rumeurs et les attitudes à l’égard des activités et des équipes de la « Riposte », qualifiées de « réticences » par l’OMS. Il adopte une perspective d’anthropologie symétrique, qui consiste à questionner aussi bien le contexte socioculturel et historico-politique que les aspects techniques de ce dispositif de lutte sans concéder de privilège épistémologique à l’un des deux aspects. Si la Riposte a justifié l’imposition de normes de biosécurité par le caractère exceptionnel de l’épidémie d’Ebola, les populations, elles, ne la vivent pas toujours comme un événement « hors normes ». Leurs discours et leurs comportements à son égard sont nourris par une longue histoire socioculturelle et prennent corps dans une économie politique locale et nationale faite de méfiances et de clivages ethniques. Plus spécifiquement, les attitudes face aux enterrements dignes et sécurisés expriment une critique d’un dispositif technique centré sur la biosécurité, qui retire aux familles leurs droits et nie leur capacité de gestion sécuritaire de l’espace mortuaire. Finalement, les attitudes dites réticentes témoignent d’une réaction à une violence structurelle produite par la Riposte et correspondent à des formes de mobilisation pour revendiquer une meilleure reconnaissance du rôle des communautés dans la gestion de l’épidémie. Cet article souhaite prouver qu’une lecture critique et symétrique par l’anthropologie du dispositif de lutte n’est pas purement négative. Au contraire, elle fournit les moyens et les arguments d’une approche plus collaborative et plus respectueuse des droits et des devoirs des communautés, en éclairant les enjeux sociopolitiques et contextuels de l’épidémie.

Anthropology's response to the West African Ebola epidemic was one of the most rapid and expansive anthropological interventions to a global health emergency in the discipline's history. This article sets forth the size and scale of the anthropological response and describes the protagonists, interventions , and priorities for anthropological engagement. It takes an inclusive approach to anthropological praxis by engaging with the work of nonanthro-pologist " allies, " including qualitative researchers, social workers, and allied experts. The article narrates how the concept of " anthropology " came to serve as a semantic marker of solidarity with local populations, respect for customary practices and local sociopolitical realities, and an avowed belief in the capacities of local populations to lead localized epidemic prevention and response efforts. Of particular consideration is the range of complementary and conflicting epistemological, professional, and critical engagements held by anthropologists. The article also discusses how to assess anthropological " impact " in epidemics. 421

Epidemiology and outbreak response in 2018/19 Ebola outbreak in DRC. Covers local and WHO data, reviews over 40 relevant articles. Covers infection rates and mortality, vaccine programme, treatment centres and trials of new therapeutics. Also discusses problems of insecurity and militia violence, and need for greater community participation.

Several coronavirus (severe acute respiratory syndrome [SARS], Middle East respiratory syndrome [MERS]), flavivirus (yellow fever, West Nile, dengue, Zika), and alphavirus (chikungunya, Ebola) infections have, in the past 10–20 years, emerged or reemerged as major problems across large regions of the globe. While, currently, many of these infections are confined to the tropics, global warming, the spread of some mosquito vectors northward, and emergence of temperate-tolerant pathogens such as West Nile virus mean that these problems are increasingly affecting the global north as well. After discussing mosquito-based preventions for the zoonotic infections mentioned in this article, a review of herbal responses to the SARS and MERS epidemics are highlighted. Houttuynia cordata (houttuynia, yú xīng cǎo) and Glycyrrhiza spp. (licorice) stand out as particularly interesting single herbs for addressing these coronavirus infections. Herbal approaches to flavivirus infections, most notably clinical trials of Carica papaya (papaya) leaves for treating dengue fever, are reviewed. A discussion of many of the extensive range of herbs studied to treat flaviviruses in preclinical studies is provided. Potential herbal treatments for alphavirus infections are then presented.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a major health issue due to the lack of any approved medicine or vaccine for human use. Ebola virus disease has also spread a serious terrific fear attack in Africa since the Ebola virus disease has killed approximately 5,000 people in 2014 outbreak in West African. In case, if Ebola virus disease is not controlled, then it will be a serious threat to human population and also Ebola virus could be used as a bioterrorism agent which is still more dangerous and worst than the warfare. This emergency situation of Ebola virus outbreak has cautioned and also motivated for the development of a vaccine against highly contagious Ebola virus disease. However, there are many issues with the traditional methods of vaccine production. Therefore, plant made vaccine strategy coupled with the use of viral vectors (MagnICON' vectors, Icon Genetics Inc., Germany), and Agroinfection technique is safe, versatile, and accumulates higher yield of recombinant protein for vaccination programmes. Recent experimental model of tobacco plant derived ZMapp antibody cocktails is another major breakthrough in plant biotechnology. This new wave of ZMapp antibody cocktail experiment is another ray of hope for humanization of vaccine platform. However, there are some regulatory issues and needs to be addressed before the commercialization of vaccine.

In the context of controlling the current outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD), the World Health Organization claimed that 'critical determinant of epidemic size appears to be the speed of implementation of rigorous control measures', i.e. immediate follow-up of contact persons during 21 days after exposure, isolation and treatment of cases, decontamination, and safe burials. We developed the Surveillance and Outbreak Response Management System (SORMAS) to improve efficiency and timeliness of these measures. We used the Design Thinking methodology to systematically analyse experiences from field workers and the Ebola Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) after successful control of the EVD outbreak in Nigeria. We developed a process model with seven personas representing the procedures of EVD outbreak control. The SORMAS system architecture combines latest In-Memory Database (IMDB) technology via SAP HANA (in-memory, relational database management system), enabling interactive data analyses, and established SAP cloud tools, such as SAP Afaria (a mobile device management software). The user interface consists of specific front-ends for smartphones and tablet devices, which are independent from physical configurations. SORMAS allows real-time, bidirectional information exchange between field workers and the EOC, ensures supervision of contact follow-up, automated status reports, and GPS tracking. SORMAS may become a platform for outbreak management and improved routine surveillance of any infectious disease. Furthermore, the SORMAS process model may serve as framework for EVD outbreak modeling.

Ebola virus is a type of transmittable disease that can transferred from one person to the next by the exchange of bodily fluids such as blood, feces and vomit. People infected with ebola commonly experience bleeding while the virus attacks the multiple organ system in the body.

Abstract
Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is worldwide problem and affecting almost all ethnic groups. For many years its ill health
effect received little public attention. Like many other developing countries, FGC is a widely practiced by Ethiopian women and it is
one major cause for high maternal mortality in the country. In this study, we aimed to assess knowledge, attitude and practice towards
FGM/C among women age 15- 49 years in Jigjiga town, Ethiopia. Community based cross-sectional study was conducted in selected
kebeles of Somali regional state, Jigjiga town, Ethiopia. Socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about the ill health effect of
FGM, women attitude towards the practice and other information was collected from 323 systematically selected women by using a
pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 323 women were included in the study of which 138 (43%) of them were within
the age group 20-24 years. Majority [230 (71.2%)] were from Somali ethnic group and 271 (84%) were Muslims. Nearly one third 98
(30.3%) were house wife and about quarter 81 (25%) were illiterate. The commonest 139 (47.8%) age of their circumcision was
between 6-14 years of age. Mothers 196 (67.4%) and trained traditional birth attendants 154 (53%) were the commonest decision
makers for this practice to be performed. Nearly half 168 (52%) of the women reported the practice should be stopped whilst 117
(36.2%) women supported that FGC should be maintained in the society. Majority 179 (83%) of the women had the intention of
exposing their future daughters to the mildest form of Sunni type FGC practices. The prevalence of FGC with its different forms was
found to be high among the study participants. Infibulations was the most common FGC types among the circumcised participants.
There is a trend of shifting FGC practice from its severe (infibulations) form to milder (Sunni) form in the community at present.
Keywords: Attitude; female genital mutilation; knowledge; practice; Ethiopia

COVID-19 is a non-segmented, positive sense RNA virus.,COVID-19 is part of the family of
coronaviruses. This contains Four coronaviruses which are widely distributed and usually cause the common
cold (but can cause viral pneumonia in patients with comorbidities). Corona virus can spread from an infected
person’s mouth or nose in small liquid particles when they cough, sneeze, speak, sing or breathe. These particles
range from larger respiratory droplets to smaller aerosols. Someone can be infected by breathing in the virus if
you are near someone who has COVID-19, or by touching a contaminated surface and then your eyes, nose or
mouth. The virus spreads more easily indoors and in crowded settings It is normal for viruses to change and
evolve as they spread between people over time. When these changes become significantly different from the
original virus, they are known as “variants.” To identify variants, scientists map the genetic material of viruses,
A variant of interest becomes a variant of concern if it is known to spread more easily, cause more severe
disease, escape the body’s immune response, change clinical presentation, or decrease effectiveness of known
tools – such as public health measures, diagnostics, treatments and vaccines. On the other hand Ebola virus
disease (EVD) is a deadly disease with occasional outbreaks that occur mostly on the African continent. EVD
most commonly affects people and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). It is
caused by an infection with a group of viruses within the genus Ebolavirus Transmission of Lassa virus to
humans occurs most commonly through ingestion or inhalation . Mastomys rodents shed the virus in urine and
droppings and direct contact with these materials, through touching soiled objects, eating contaminated food, or
exposure to open cuts or sores, can lead to infection, Monitoring and managing potential infected patients of
COVID-19 , Ebola and Lassa Fever is still a great challenge for the latest technologies This paper x-rayed a
networking solution in which Sensor (Medical Super Sensor - MSS) is used to collect multiple physiological
signs sensed by each of the body sensors in wireless body area network and forwards them to the personal
server and an Intelligent Personal Digital Assistant (IPDA) is used as a personal server; it has the ability to
collect patient’s vital signs and prioritizes the data transmission based on patient’s current condition and data
content remotely

The problem on 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in Africa lead a great concern to the medical society. This disease is believed to be one of the most serious infection in the medical history. The high virulence of Ebola virus is observed and the medical society fears for its possible worldwide pandemic. In addition to the natural spreading, the possibility of artificial outbreak due to bioterrorism and biocrime should be mentioned. In fact, the new emerging disease is an important focus in biological welfare. Werner noted that “an infectious cause has been demonstrated (or
strongly suspected) for various diseases and the scope of infectiology
keeps widening, while the threat of bioterrorism cannot be neglected.” For the case of Ebola, the concern on the illegal use of the virus as the new bioterrorism agent by the terrorist is widely discussed. Ebola virus can cause hemorrhagic fever that is easy for using as potential agents for biologic warfare due to “capability of aerosol transmission, high morbidity,and mortality associated with infection, and ability to replicate in cell culture in high concentrations'.

This review focuses on Ebola, a deadly virus of the family Filoviridae that damages the immune system. Since the initial discovery of Zaire and Sudan ebola virus in 1976, the Ebola viruses have been responsible for severe hemorrhagic fever outbreaks in Africa with case fatality rates between 40-90% and Zaire strain showing maximum fatality rate. Most people are infected by giving care to infected people either directly or by cleaning the infected person’s body fluids. Further the review also addresses the signs and symptoms of the disease which is characterized by symptoms like fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, diarrhea, rash and so on during the early stages of the disease. This disease could be diagnosed through laboratory findings by several detection tests like IgM Elisa, Immunosorbent Assay technique, Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Immunohistochemistry testing, isolation of viruses and so on. New drug therapies are evaluated but no FDA approved drug is available, only some supportive care like providing fluids, replacing blood, treating some infections developed is provided to patients suffering from Ebola. Currently ZMapp is being tried which is a combination of three monoclonal antibodies.

The Ebolavirus outbreak of 2014 in West Africa is unprecedented. As of the situation report from the World Health Organization (WHO) dated November 11, 2014 there were 16,899 suspected, probable, and confirmed cases along with 5987 deaths reported globally in this Public Health
Emergency of International Concern. Five cases outside the continent of Africa have been reported.
Entry and exit screening for EVD (Ebola Virus Disease) of individuals originating from known outbreak regions currently include the presence of fever or additional symptoms consistent with EVD. Despite these efforts, the rate of transmission [R (t)] remains at 1.4 to 1.7, transnational
cases are increasing, and a resurgence of the outbreak in Mali has recently been reported.
This perspective article discusses the pitfalls associated with the determination of fever in the screening process as well as the difficulties with individual, subjective self-reporting of symptoms, and denial of disease as a risk not previously reported in screening for fever in
infectious disease outbreaks. Additional bioinformatics data is presented with focus upon the poorly conserved mucin-like domain of the Zaire ebolavirus glycoprotein with comparison between the current Zaire
ebolavirus strain Guekedou (2014), and the Zaire ebolavirus, strain Mayinga (1976). The specific dynamics are illustrated by a multiple sequence alignment and de novo modelling of the Ebolavirus, strain Guekedou (August 2014) C-terminus MLD and GP2 translated proteins.

Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a major health issue due to the lack of any approved medicine or vaccine for human use. Ebola virus disease has also spread a serious terrific fear attack in Africa since the Ebola virus disease has killed approximately 5,000 people in 2014 outbreak in West Africa. In case, if Ebola virus disease is not controlled, then it will be a serious threat to human population and also Ebola virus could be used as a bioterrorism agent which is still more dangerous and worst than the warfare. This emergency situation of Ebola virus outbreak has cautioned and also motivated for the development of a vaccine against highly contagious Ebola virus disease. However, there are many issues with the traditional methods of vaccine production. Therefore, plant made vaccine strategy coupled with the use of viral vectors (MagnICON' vectors, Icon Genetics Inc., Germany), and Agroinfection technique is safe, versatile, and accumulates higher yield of recombinant protein for vaccination programmes. Recent experimental model of tobacco plant derived ZMapp antibody cocktails is another major breakthrough in plant biotechnology. This new wave of ZMapp antibody cocktail experiment is another ray of hope for humanization of vaccine platform. However, there are some regulatory issues and needs to be addressed before the commercialization of vaccine.

This paper reviews a number of biomedical engineering approaches to help aid in the detection and treatment of tropical diseases such as dengue, malaria, cholera, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, ebola, leprosy, leishmaniasis, and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas). Many different forms of non-invasive approaches such as ultrasound, echocardiography and electrocardiography, bioelectrical impedance, optical detection, simplified and rapid serological tests such as lab-on-chip and micro-/nano-fluidic platforms and medical support systems such as artificial intelligence clinical support systems are discussed. The paper also reviewed the novel clinical diagnosis and management systems using artificial intelligence and bioelectrical impedance techniques for dengue clinical applications.

Link to full text articles :
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25806872
http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/15/3/6947/pdf

An Ebola virus epidemic occurred in the West African nation of Sierra Leone between 2014 and 2016, resulting in at least 14,000 cases and 4,000 deaths. The epidemic overwhelmed responders for months, causing deep concern all over the world, and it was halted only after the British Government, WHO, and many international NGOs joined hands with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health and Sanitation. Several strategies were employed, but the Safe and Dignified Burial (SDB) programme was arguably the most important. Ebola is spread by contact with body fluids, and Ebola victims are most contagious after death when decomposition results in the release of fluids that can be dangerous for months. SDB aimed at collecting corpses as fast as possible, disinfecting the death home, and burying corpses immediately. While SDB was medically effective at reducing the rate of infection, it posed a number of difficult cultural issues that had to be overcome to gain public acceptance of the programme. A group of local and international NGOs commissioned this study by an anthropologist with decades of experience in Sierra Leone. This report focuses on SDB’s work in Sierra Leone’s Western Area, and contains a review of various cultural practices that impacted the programme. It also contains an overview of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone and its sociocultural context. The Ebola Response Consortium sponsored this research with support from the International Rescue Committee.

This research aims to analyze the infographics about Ebola in Portuguese Cyber Journalism and in the pioneering New York Times in order to assess to what extent were harnessed the potential of infographics in this study-case. Based on a theoretical framework that explains the concepts of infographics and its potential, is intended to evaluate the infographics harnessing levels centered on the case of Ebola in 2014, a complex and affecting society worldwide virus.

The 2014 Ebola crisis received unprecedented media attention in the United States, despite low risk of transmission. We examined theoretically derived correlates of psychological response to the crisis, including Ebola-related media exposure, prior mental health history, and stress response to a recent prior collective trauma (the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, BMB). A national probability sample completed a survey 2–4 weeks post-BMB; 18 months later, the same sample reported responses to the Ebola crisis (N = 3,447). History of mental health diagnoses, acute stress response to the BMB, and Ebola-related media exposure were associated with greater psychological distress and functional impairment. Prior acute stress and Ebola-related media exposure were also associated with Ebola-related worry; individuals with higher BMB-related acute stress who consumed more Ebola-related media were more worried about contracting Ebola. Media coverage of the Ebola public health crisis was associated with negative psychological outcomes, even among individuals at low risk for contracting the disease.

BACKGROUND:
It is well established that Ebola Survivors experience a myriad of physical and psychological sequelae. However, little is known about how they seek care to address their health needs. Our study determines the current healthcare seeking behaviour among Ebola survivors and determines the prevalence, pattern of use and correlates of traditional and complementary medicine (T&CM) use among Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone.

METHODS:
We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey among a cross-sectional sample of Ebola Survivors in Sierra Leone between January and August 2018. We employed descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Fisher exact two-tailed test and backward stepwise binary regression analysis for data analysis. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS:
Ebola Survivors who participated in our study (n = 358), visited a healthcare provider (n = 308, 86.0%), self-medicated with conventional medicines (n = 255, 71.2%) and visited a private pharmacy outlet (n = 141, 39.4%). Survivors also self-medicated with T&CM products (n = 107, 29.9%), concurrently self-medicated with conventional and T&CM products (n = 62, 17.3%), and visited a T&CM practitioner (n = 41, 11.5%). Almost half of (n = 163, 45.5%) Ebola survivors reported using T&CM treatments for post ebola related symptoms and non-Ebola related symptoms since their discharge from an Ebola treatment centre. Ebola survivors who considered their health to be fair or poor (AOR = 4.08; 95%CI: 2.22-7.50; p<0.01), presented with arthralgia (AOR = 2.52; 95%CI: 1.11-5.69, p = 0.026) and were discharged three years or less (AOR = 3.14; 95%CI: 1.13-8.73, p = 0.028) were more likely to use T&CM. Family (n = 101,62.0%) and friends (n = 38,23.3%) were the common sources of T&CM information. Abdominal pain (n = 49, 30.1%) followed by joint pain (n = 46, 28.2%) and back pain (n = 43, 26.4%) were the most cited post-Ebola indications for T&CM use. More than three-quarters of T&CM users (n = 135, 82.8%) failed to disclose their use of T&CM to their healthcare providers.

CONCLUSION:
Ebola survivors in Sierra Leone employ a myriad of healthcare options including T&CM in addressing their healthcare needs. Researchers, health policy makers and healthcare providers should be aware of the substantial role of T&CM in the health seeking of survivors, and this topic that should be factored into future research, policy formulation and implementation as well as routine practice regarding Ebola survivors.

This paper investigates the media coverage of a newly emerging disease, which for months was framed as the African plague, until the virus landed in Madrid, on August 8, 2014, in the body of a Spanish missionary who was the first European victim of Ebola. Before that the epidemic had been lurking ‘out there’, in the ‘heart of darkness’, remaining the Other’s disease. Then the doomsday virus cradled in the dark continent hit the headlines in Europe and the US, producing a media frenzy. The content analysis of European broadsheets, tabloids and weeklies reveals the most prominent features of the rhetoric of fear that dominated media reports in the summer of 2014. Readers were confronted with the narrative of a medical thriller beginning with What if speculation and concluding with doomsday scenarios often heralded by the conjunction but, which allowed facts to be replaced with conjecture often fuelled by horrifying comparisons and metaphors of a killer virus. In 2014 the media brought Ebola to our living rooms and our minds. This study examines othering as a tool used by the media. It demonstrates how otherness works as a defence strategy helping to redirect the threat and thus allay the fears aroused by graphic stories. Furthermore, it shows how effective that strategy can be when humans want to deny their vulnerability.

Docteur en socio-anthropologie-Master en épidémiologie et santé publique-MS en genre et santé Lauréate 2015 du Prix de recherche Fonds Croix-Rouge Julienne Anoko a travaillé au sein des agences des Nations-Unies et en tant que coordinatrice de la plateforme mobilisation sociale/engagement communautaire et conseillère à la Coordination Nationale de Lutte contre Ebola, pendant les presque deux années de l'épidémie

The best approach for the development of a vaccine against a specific infection or a microbial disease is Insilico vaccine designing that is not only accurate but also requires minimum time, labour and economy. This approach can also be used to analyze the target structures for possible binding/active sites, generate candidate molecules, check for their drug likeness, dock these molecules with the target, rank them according to their binding affinities, further optimize the molecules to improve binding characteristics. During vaccine designing the disease to be selected should be a viral or a bacterial disease but not due to a protozoan, as they cannot be attenuated and injected. The main goal of the current work is to develop a vaccine against the disease Ebola. Computational tools offer the advantage of delivering new drug candidates more quickly and at a lower cost. This review provides succinct overview of several methods in drug discovery by using insilico approaches on identifying drug targets where there are genes or proteins associated with specific diseases.

This paper presents a hypothesis for understanding how Ebolavirus disease (EVD) has moved differentially through Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, following culturally and socially distinctive patterns of transmission. This document sythesizes research conducted by recent research in Sierra Leone (Richards et al. 2015), expert observations and analyses regarding state distrust and instability in Guinea (James Fairhead, informal communication; McGovern 2004, 2012), and a preliminary analysis of 2014 WHO data on the local cotext of Ebola transmission in Monrovia, Liberia (Abramowitz et al. 2015). The conceptual premise of this document is that current capacity of Ebola response is fundamentally constrained by existing inefficiencies of the case tracking and case reporting system.