Question

1) what genome does the Ebola virus have? How does this genome prevent vaccination?

2) what is the natural reservoir for the Ebola virus? How does the Ebola virus move from the reservoir to humans?

3) How is the Ebola virus transmitted from person to person? Does wearing a surgical mask help prevent the spread of the Ebola virus?

4) what would suggest to help prevent the spread of the virus in West Africa?

5) Is a large scale Ebola outbreak, like the one occurring in West Africa, possible in North America? Why or why not?

Answer 1

1) Genome of Ebola virus is a single stranded, negative sense linear RNA. The genome mutates at a very rapid rate making vaccination difficult since difficult.

2) Natural reservoir for Ebola has not been precisely identified. Humans have got the infection from bats, apes or monkeys.

3)Trasnmission of the virus is through bodily fluids of the infected persons (blood , mucuos, semen etc), the virus can enter through cracks in the skin ,nose ,mouth.Wearing a surgical wouldnt really be helpful against the spread of the virus, unless other precautions like proper hygiene, other factors which make a person come in contact with Ebola virus are taken care of. Anything that comes in contact with infected persons bodily fluid, like beddings, clothes ,needles etec can lead to transmission of Ebola.

4) Practicing good hygiene, like proper and wash, avoiding contact with persons affected with Ebola, avoiding certains meats, avoiding bats and primates exposure can help prevent spread to some extent since Ebola not transmitted by air or food in general

5) Large scale Ebola outbreak in North America is far less likely if people returning from the place where Ebola has spread, West Africa, are monitored for symptoms and quarantined.