3. OBJECTIVES
To learn more about Ebola, its threats, so that we can prepare ourselves for any eventuality.
To learn about the steps undertaken around the world to prevent and curb further Ebola outbreaks.
To delve further into the understanding of the deadly disease, which has taken a toll of more than millions of life
around the world.
4. EPIDEMIOLOGY
The first case of filovirus haemorrhagic fever were reported in 1967 in Germany and the former
Yugoslavia, identified causative agent was Marburg virus.12
An unknown causative agent was isolated from patients in the outbreak and named Ebola virus after a
small river in northwestern DRC.
5. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Progression to severe disease occurs when the virus triggers expression of a host of pro-inflammatory
cytokines, including interferons; interleukins (ILs) such as IL-2, IL- 6, IL-8, and IL-10; interferon inducible
protein; and tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α).8, 21, 24
Thrombocytopenia is most commonly caused by loss of platelets from damaged tissue or more
generalised virus induced disseminated intravascular coagulation, where coagulation factors are
depleted.26
6. SYMPTOMS
There are typically three phases of illness, starting with a few days of non-specific fever, headache, and
myalgia, followed by a gastrointestinal phase in which diarrhoea and vomiting, abdominal symptoms, and
dehydration are prominent.
In the second week, the patient may recover or deteriorate, with a third phase of illness including
collapse, neurological manifestations, and bleeding, which is often fatal.38
7. THERAPEUTICS
MEDICAMENTS
1. Zmapp
2. TKM-Ebola
3. Favipiravir
MODE OF ACTION
1. A combination of three humanised monoclonal antibodies
targeted at three Ebola virus glycoprotein epitopes.
2. It consists of a combination of small interfering RNAs that target
Ebola virus RNA polymerase L, formulated with lipid
nanoparticle technology.
3. Formerly known as T-705, favipiravir selectively inhibits viral
RNA dependent RNA polymerase.
8. DRUGS IN CLINICAL TRIAL
Two experimental vaccines are currently undergoing trials.62 63
cAd3-ZEBOV is a chimpanzee derived adenovirus vector with
an Ebola virus gene inserted.76 Trials are under way in the United
Kingdom, United States, Switzerland, and some African
countries. rVSV-ZEBOV is an attenuated vesicular stomatitis
virus with one of its genes replaced by an Ebola virus gene.
Human trials have started in the US.
9. REFERENCES
1. (12). Siegert R, Shu HL, Slenczka W, Peters D, Muller G. [On the etiology of an unknown human infection originating from monkeys] Dtsch Med
Wochenschr 1967; 92: 2341–43 (in German). Ebola haemorrhagic fever
2. (8). Feldmann H, Geisbert TW. Ebola haemorrhagic fever. Lancet 2011;377:849-62. Ebola virus disease
3. (21). Ramanan P, Shabman RS, Brown CS, Amarasinghe GK, Basler CF, Leung DW. Filoviral immune evasion mechanisms. Viruses
2011;3:1634-49. Ebola virus disease
4. (24). Sanchez A, Lukwiya M, Bausch D, Mahanty S, Sanchez AJ, Wagoner KD, et al. Analysis of human peripheral blood samples from fatal and
nonfatal cases of Ebola (Sudan) hemorrhagic fever: cellular responses, virus load, and nitric oxide levels. J Virol 2004;78:10370-7. Ebola virus
disease
5. (26). Leroy EM, Baize S, Volchkov VE, Fisher-Hoch SP, Georges-Courbot MC, Lansoud-Soukate J, et al. Human asymptomatic Ebola infection
and strong inflammatory response. Lancet 2000;355:2210-5. Ebola virus disease
6. (38). Chertow DS, Kleine C, Edwards JK, Scaini R, Giuliani R, Sprecher A. Ebola virus disease in West Africa—clinical manifestations and
management. N Engl J Med 2014;371:2054-7. Ebola virus disease
7. (62). Bishop BM. Potential and emerging treatment options for Ebola virus disease. Ann Pharmacother 2014; published online 20 Nov. Ebola
virus disease
10. REFERENCES
8. (63). WHO. Potential Ebola therapies and vaccines. 2014. http://www.who.int/csr/resources/publications/ebola/potential-therapies-vaccines/en/.
Ebola virus disease
9. (76). Ledgerwood JE, DeZure AD, Stanley DA, Novik L, Enama ME, Berkowitz NM, et al; the VRC 207 Study Team. Chimpanzee adenovirus
vector Ebola vaccine - preliminary report. N Engl J Med 2014; published online 26 Nov. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1410863. Ebola virus disease
