New strain of Ebola in Guinea:

Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic

   New strain of Ebola in Guinea: study
Scientists have found the virus responsible for the Ebola epidemic in Guinea is distinct from other strains in Africa.
Source AAP
UPDATED 9 HOURS AGO
The virus that has caused a deadly Ebola epidemic in Guinea is a new strain that emerged locally, possibly transmitted by fruit bats, virologists have said.
The outbreak is the first to be recorded in West Africa, but researchers said the virus causing it did not come from other countries where Ebola already circulates.
An international team of scientists unravelled the genome of the virus and found it to be distinct from strains in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon, though they share an ancestor.
The virus is of the EBOV type - one of three species that have caused outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, said the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday.
"This study demonstrates the emergence of EBOV in Guinea," the authors wrote.
Data from the genetic analysis "suggest a single introduction of the virus into the human population", probably in early December 2013 "or even before", according to the study.
"It is suspected that the virus was transmitted for months before the outbreak became apparent," it added.
"This length of exposure appears to have allowed many transmission chains and thus increased the number of cases of Ebola virus disease."
Though it has not been confirmed, the study said fruit bats found throughout West Africa were "potential reservoirs" of the virus.
"The emergence of the virus in Guinea highlights the risk of EBOV outbreaks in the whole West African subregion."
More than 100 people have died of the outbreak in Guinea since the beginning of the year, and neighbouring Liberia has reported 13 deaths.
The fatality rate was between 71 and 86 per cent in the cases they studied, the team wrote.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
carbon20 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Joined: April 08 2006 Location: West Australia Status: Offline Points: 65816	Post Options Post Reply Quote carbon20 Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: New strain of Ebola in Guinea: Posted: April 17 2014 at 4:39pm
	New strain of Ebola in Guinea: study Scientists have found the virus responsible for the Ebola epidemic in Guinea is distinct from other strains in Africa. Source AAP UPDATED 9 HOURS AGO The virus that has caused a deadly Ebola epidemic in Guinea is a new strain that emerged locally, possibly transmitted by fruit bats, virologists have said. The outbreak is the first to be recorded in West Africa, but researchers said the virus causing it did not come from other countries where Ebola already circulates. An international team of scientists unravelled the genome of the virus and found it to be distinct from strains in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon, though they share an ancestor. The virus is of the EBOV type - one of three species that have caused outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa, said the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine on Wednesday. "This study demonstrates the emergence of EBOV in Guinea," the authors wrote. Data from the genetic analysis "suggest a single introduction of the virus into the human population", probably in early December 2013 "or even before", according to the study. "It is suspected that the virus was transmitted for months before the outbreak became apparent," it added. "This length of exposure appears to have allowed many transmission chains and thus increased the number of cases of Ebola virus disease." Though it has not been confirmed, the study said fruit bats found throughout West Africa were "potential reservoirs" of the virus. "The emergence of the virus in Guinea highlights the risk of EBOV outbreaks in the whole West African subregion." More than 100 people have died of the outbreak in Guinea since the beginning of the year, and neighbouring Liberia has reported 13 deaths. The fatality rate was between 71 and 86 per cent in the cases they studied, the team wrote.
	Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.🖖 Marcus Aurelius

Dutch Josh Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Adviser Group Joined: May 01 2013 Location: Arnhem-Netherla Status: Offline Points: 95677	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dutch Josh Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 18 2014 at 2:31am
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsqzT3Ex32c&list=UUpPGJXgbwBmkIp291W0PCMw http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/17/us-guinea-ebola-idUSBREA3G11W20140417
	We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. ~Albert Einstein

Suzi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: September 02 2007 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2769	Post Options Post Reply Quote Suzi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: April 18 2014 at 8:32am
	There are 3 viruses now trying to make the jump. Of those three Mers is closest. Ebola is human to human. Thank goodness it is not contagious before the patient gets sick. Have we ever had so much to watch?