1. A Serious Threat to Public Health
Ebola Virus
University of Peradeniya
By: P.J. Tibutius Thanesh
Supervisor : Prof. A. Sumanasinhe

2. Ebola Virus Disease
• Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe hemorrhagic
fever, often fatal illness, with a death rate of up to 90%.
• The illness affects humans and nonhuman primates
(monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees)
• The disease was first identified in 1976 in two
simultaneous outbreaks, Democratic Republic of Congo
and the other in a remote area of Sudan.
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3. Ebola?
 Genus Ebola virus :
Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV)
Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV)
Reston ebolavirus (RESTV)
Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV)
Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV
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4. Zaire ebola virus
Negative sense RNA genome
18,959 to 18,961 nucleotides in length
The gene order is 3′ – leader – NP – VP35 – VP40
– GP/sGP – VP30 – VP24 – L – trailer – 5′
The genomic material by itself is not infectious
Two candidates for host cell entry proteins
- NP-C1
- TIM-1
(Potential target for antiviral treatment)
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5. Symptoms
Acute - Fever, intense weakness, muscle pain,
headache and sore throat
Latter - vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired
kidney and liver function, and in some
cases, internal and external bleeding
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6. Transmission
 Direct contact with blood and /or secretions of an
infected person.
 Through contact with objects, such as needles,
those have been contaminated with infected
secretions.
 Burial ceremonies
 Nosocomial transmission Incubation
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7. Laboratory Diagnosis
• Early
- Serology [ELISA testing]
- PCR
- Virus isolation
• Late
- IgM and IgG antibodies.
- Immuno‐histochemistry testing,
- Virus isolation
- PCRLab
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8. Vaccine and treatment
 No licensed vaccine for EVD is available. Several
vaccines are being tested, but none are
available for clinical use.
 Severely ill patients require intensive supportive
care. Patients are frequently dehydrated and
require oral rehydration with solutions containing
electrolytes or intravenous fluids.
 No specific treatment is available. New drug
therapies are being evaluated.
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9. Possible Host of Ebola
 Hypsignathus monstrosus
 Epomops franqueti
 Myonycteris torquata
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10. Prevention
 Placing of intravenous lines and handling of
blood, secretions, catheters and suction devices
are carried out under strict barrier nursing
conditions.
 Hospital staff should have individual gowns,
gloves, masks, closed resistant shoes (e.g.
boots) and goggles
 Protective clothing should be worn when handling
soiled linen and soiled linen should be disinfected
with an effective disinfectant (e.g. 1% Sodium
Hypochlorite Solution)
 Washing hands
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11. WHO response
 On 25 July, WHO declared the outbreak Grade 3
emergency according to the Emergency
Response Framework
 On 8 August, WHO declared the current
outbreak as Public
 Health Emergency of International Concern
(PHEIC)
> 200 experts deployed to 3 countries
WHO and GOARN partners
Epidemiology, logistics, clinical
management Deployment of mobile labs &
support national labs11 P.J.T.Thanesh

12. Sri Lankan preparedness and
response
 International airport health post & immigration officials
have been briefed about the condition
 Passengers traveling from Africa, especially from
Western & Central Africa, are closely monitored for
symptoms of Ebola.
 Isolation facilities at Negombo General Hospital
 Onsite training programme is scheduled for MoH on
packaging & shipping of infectious
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15. P.J.T.Thanesh15
Thank You

16. References
 N. Seppa. “Ebola treatments and vaccines could be near[JAR1]
.” Science News for Students. Aug. 22, 2014.
 T.H. Saey. “Record Ebola epidemic strikes.” Science News for
Students. Aug. 8, 2014.
 A.L. Mascarelli. “Explainer: Animals’ role in human disease.”
Science News for Students. Aug. 15, 2013.
 A.L. Mascarelli. “Infectious animals.” Science News for Students.
April 17, 2013.
 J. Raloff. “Bush meat can be a viral feast.” Science News Online.
Jan. 12, 2012.
 S. Ornes. “Ebola in the air.” Science News for Kids. Dec. 11,
2012.
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17. References
 World Health Organization. Global Alert and Response:
Ebola virus disease update – West Africa. Last accessed
August 24, 2014.
 World Health Organization. Ebola outbreak in West Africa
– press briefings (12 August 2014). Last accessed August
22, 2014.
 World Health Organization. WHO Statement on the
Meeting of the International Health Regulations
Emergency Committee Regarding the 2014 Ebola
Outbreak in West Africa. August 25, 2014.
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Questions
and Answers on Experimental Treatments and Vaccines
for Ebola. Last accessed August 25, 2014.
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