Men 40 years living with Ebola virus

Dangerous world epidemic of Ebola.

The first person to find the Ebola virus

40 years ago, a Belgian scientist Peter Piot began research cruise in secluded areas in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to find out why more people dying from a mysteriousdisease.

Professor Peter Piot (Institute of tropical medicine in Antwerp, Belgium) to conduct the analysis of a blood sample nuns have died with symptoms of fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea and hemorrhaging both outside and inside. In the beginning, Piot said that Professor that is virus Marburg. Marburg virus was first documented in 1967, when 31 people suffering from dengue fever in the city of Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and in Belgrade (the capital of Yugoslavia).

However, after reviewing, understanding and consultation of scientists, he determined that Piot's not Marburg virus is a virus that is also much more horrible that previously had not been found.

Piot has flown to Africa to investigate about this unprecedented virus. After several times shifting through the flight he took to a village near the Equatorial tropical forests, is very far from the center of the country Zaire. The first priority, hoping to prevent the disease is to find out how the virus spread.

Piot and his colleagues said, upon arrival here, he really felt fear covered the entire people and the atmosphere. Even, the pilots not turning off the engine when the aircraft doctors research group off the plane as ready to run fast. Also when Piot told them to "see" the pilot shouted Italian University: "we'll never meet again".

In time here, he and his colleagues had to live in the middle of the heart disease, exposure, interviewing sufferers to find the way of transmission. Even burying people who guide patients to the disease does not spread further.

Piot and his colleagues had to put each question carefully to learn about the causes of the disease. Piot's team finally found the virus also "large size" and named the Ebola-a river in Zaire (now Congo).

How to prevent Ebola virus despite living in 38 disease source

"Shy away" the disease 40 years of first finding out Ebola virus.

According to Dr. Piot, yet has the kind of medication on for Ebola but theoretically, this disease can easily deal with preventive hygiene measures as simple as washing hands with SOAP, not reuse needles, avoid contact with the bodies of people infected. Fear of the virus as well as dodges to the Medical Center to check can cause a pandemic spread of Ebola.

However, Piot also said that preventing Ebola outbreaks in the world's more difficult elements. By many patients and their families can be stigmatized communities should hide the disease, do not seek medical help when there are symptoms. Cultural beliefs also made many people believe that Ebola disease is caused by witchcraft made, others hostile to medical staff because of the claim that they were "giving the disease".

Mr. Piot said: "we should not forget that this is a disease of poverty, of weak health system and distrust. Therefore, the information, communication and participation of community leaders is as important as the medical approach classic ".=