How is Ebola diagnosed?
What is so difficult about diagnosing Ebola is that early symptoms are very similar to other diseases. As with any exposure to bacteria, pathogen or virus, your body reacts by producing antibodies, in order to fight off the unknown substances in the body.
Recognizing specific antibodies related to Ebola is important in diagnosing its presence. What makes Ebola so ruthless, is that it spreads quicker than the immune system can react.
A rapid medical response is needed in diagnosing Ebola, as it becomes vital to halt the virus before it continues spreading. With reference to an extensive article published on The American Society for Microbiology “Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Disease: Past, Present and Future”, some of the main tests that are carried out, to determine if symptoms are in fact related to Ebola are:
Cell culture:
Viewed as the gold standard for detecting Ebola, the virus can be detected by microscope within cell culture. This is a highly effective test, as it is definitive, however is limited to public health laborites.
Antibody detection:
A blood test is taken to recognize if specific antibodies have been generated against Ebola.
Protein Antigen Detection:
Within the first few days of first symptoms showing, viral protein antigens can be detected within the blood.
Real time testing:
The RealStar Ebolavirus test kit uses real time technology to detect any of the five known Ebola species in an emergency event. This test kit is often used in combination with any of the above tests, rather than used solely to detect Ebola. Results can be given in a short window of between 30 to 60 minutes.
This is an incredibly sensitive test kit, which has been known to give a false negative result, if not carried out correctly. For this reason, further tests as above, are also relied on. All tests are carried out in maximum containment by specialized medical teams experienced in treating widespread infectious diseases.
If a mobile testing lab is available in remote regions, this dramatically speeds up diagnostic time, from 3 to 5 days to around 3 to 5 hours.
How is Ebola treated?
To date, there is no known treatment for Ebola, however measures can be taken to reduce its severity, and stop the virus spreading from person to person.
Of course the health care setting becomes very important, because as you can imagine, in a third world country resources can be limited, along with the lack of highly qualified doctors experienced in the treatment of Ebola and infectious diseases. For this reason, many aid agencies are sent from Western countries to control any outbreak of Ebola.
Infection control measures and treatment include:
§ The setup of temporary treatment facilities, including isolation wards for suspected cases, along with separate wards for confirmed cases, dressing rooms for medical staff and a mortuary for those who have passed away.
§ Patients will stay in these isolated wards until diagnostic measures are carried out. An area is allocated for loved ones to visit, separated by a double lined wall preventing any contact, along with a disinfectant spray over the visitor’s full clothing. The visitor area is a reassuring method to still remain in contact with patients within the isolation ward, provided they are strong enough to walk outside to the visitor area.
§ Medical workers can provide supportive therapy to comfort patients, and improve survival rates. This includes treating severe dehydration by IV drips, bathing, maintaining oxygen and blood levels and treatment of pain. Medical staff can also treat any bacterial infections that arise while in the isolation ward.
The challenges of diagnosing and treating Ebola in third world countries
Again, referring to the article published on The American Society for Microbiology “Diagnosis of Ebola Virus Disease: Past, Present and Future”, it becomes clear that there are still many hurdles to overcome in both the diagnostic and treatment stages of Ebola including:
§ Accessing clear drinking water, disposing of waste, transport constraints and electricity supply in remote locations.
§ The lengthy ground transportation of blood samples to confirm that Ebola virus is present.
§ Keeping patients that do not have Ebola in the same isolated wards, with those that do have Ebola. The non-confirmed patients are then at high risk of contracting the virus from other infected patients.
§ Mistrust or lack of understanding from locals, on the topic of Western intervention, including burial of bodies without proper cultural traditions being carried out.
