A Comprehensive Analysis of the Causes and Effects of the Ebola Virus

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of the Ebola virus, detailing its causes, transmission, and devastating effects. It begins by explaining how the virus originates from wild animals and spreads through bodily fluids, leading to outbreaks primarily in West Africa. The essay explores the various consequences of Ebola, including the fear and disruption it caused within affected populations, leading to patients avoiding hospitals, and the role of traditional healers. It also discusses the high mortality rate among healthcare workers, the long-term health issues faced by survivors, and the significant impact on maternal and child health indicators. Furthermore, the essay highlights the emergence of orphans, economic disruptions, and the overall impact on the affected countries. The conclusion emphasizes the severity of the Ebola epidemic and its far-reaching consequences on public health, family life, and economic stability.

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Introduction
Ebola is a deadly infection spread through Ebola virus found in body fluids or the blood
of an infected person. Contact with an infected animal or object can also lead to the spread of
Ebola. West African countries especially Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea have been the main
affected by the outbreak of Ebola with the 2014 West African Ebola outbreak being ranked the
most widespread in the history of the Ebola virus. The virus is said to have originated from wild
animals. The virus first appeared in 1972 in a place called Yambuku in Congo and Nzara in
South Sudan (WHO, 2018). This essay will discuss the cause and effects of the Ebola Virus.
Ebola is caused by the Ebola Virus. It occurs when the virus gets transmitted from
infected animals such as gorillas, Chimps and fruit bats to a human being. It also transmitted
among human beings through blood and body secretions and fluids such as urine, stool, sweat,
semen breast milk and blood. Some species of Fruits Bats are alleged to be the hosts of the Virus
(Wilkinson & Leach, 2015). Transmission can also be caused through contact with bodies of a
person who has died out of the virus or contact with contaminated objects. Cultural burial
practices in some countries that wash bodies of deceased persons can also lead to the spread of
Ebola Virus. It is believed that the quick spread of the virus to West Africa was aided by
movements of bats across the region (Bradford, 2018). The first case of Ebola virus in the United
States was reported in 2014. It involved a patient who had been in Liberia and who died ten days
after arriving in the US. Two other healthcare workers contracted the disease in the course of
carrying out their duties.
Effects of Ebola. The outbreak of Ebola came with many consequences both during after
it occurred. One notable effect was fear among the affected population that came with the

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outbreak. Notably, the spread of the virus was hastened by this fear (Nyei, 2016). It resulted in a
situation where sick patients were concealed at home and not taken to hospitals. Traditional
healers became proffered by many of the affected populations. The fear also led to physical
contact with infected bodies and escape of symptomatic patients from treatment units.
Additionally, a closure of regular health centers followed the outbreak increasing the number of
deaths from curable ailments which had been prevalent in the region at the time of the Ebola
outbreak. A large number of deaths were caused by typhoid fever and malaria (Nyei, 2016).
One of the effects of ebola virus was death and Infection of healthcare workers.
Secondly, by December 14, 2014, a total of 356 healthcare workers had succumbed to the illness
while 649 others had become ill(Rettner, 2015).. As the outbreak became more prevalent leading
to filling up of Ebola treatment units the role of taking care for Ebola patients was left over to
family members increasing their risk of contracting the deadly infection because they did so
without any protection (Wilkinson & Leach, 2015).
Secondly, ebola also caused Eye problems to the survivors. About 15 percent of
Congolese patients who had survived the disease developed eye problems including loss of
vision and eye pain (Freeman, 2015). These same were also reported in some parts of West
Africa. These vision problems however responded well to treatment but those which were left
untreated led to blindness. In some instances also, the disease leads to longer disability on the
affected survivors (Rettner, 2015).
Tirdly, it had significant Implication on maternal and child health. The outbreak of Ebola
disease in West Africa had a significant impact on child and maternal health indicators continent
(Thomas et al., 2014). Previously before its occurrence, the region had recorded a positive trend

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in all indicators associated with child and maternal health. With the outbreak, however, these
indicators were largely reversed after the outbreak. This was also visible in the declining of the
number of child vaccinations, an occurrence which was observed in the post-Ebola Era
(Wilkinson & Leach, 2015).
Fourthly, ebola led to the emergence of a new class of orphans. Many children have
become orphans or lost one parent in the aftermath of the outbreak. This was one of the problems
that had to be dealt with in the aftermath of the Ebola virus. It is estimated that about 4000
children from West Africa were orphaned by the epidemic with another 16,600 losing a Carer or
one of their parents. The Ebola outbreak created the most widespread generation of Orphans
after one created by Sierra Leone and Liberia 1990’s Civil wars (Freeman, 2015). As of
September 2015, cumulatively there were 28388 cases of Ebola out of which 11296 died. Liberia
had the highest number of deaths at 4808 followed by Sierra Leone in 3955 and Guinea at 2533
(Nyei, 2016).
Additionally ebola also led to major economic Disruptions. West African Countries
affected by the outbreak suffered major economic disruptions that continue to affects them to the
present day. A country like Liberia had undergone tremendous economic growth before the
outbreak of recording one of the fastest economic growth rates in the continent (Thomas et al.,
2014). This was however significantly disrupted with the emergence of the Ebola epidemic. Not
only was The Liberian economy disrupted but also the economies of other affected countries
such as Sierra Leone and Guinea.2014 Statistics indicate that the three countries lost a total of
$2.2 Billion in GDP. The outbreak also resulted in a decline in agricultural production and
income of a significant number of the affected families (Stanturf et al., 2015).

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Conclusion
In conclusion, the Ebola Disease virus is a serious epidemic that is caused by the Ebola
virus. The virus had its origin from wild animals and transmitted through bodily contact or
contact with infected objects. The disease led to the death of a significant part of the population
and disrupted family life by leading to the emergence of a new class of orphans. It also led to the
shutting down of several health centers as fear of the spread of the disease increased. This also
came with an increase in the number of deaths from other curable diseased. Major economic
disruptions were also witnessed in the affected regions.

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