Saturday, September 15, 2007

NY Times Podcasts Ebola Virus

There was an outbreak of the Ebola Virus in Central Congo. This virus attained its name from the Ebola River. Even with the amazing amount of technology we have today, we are still unable to find the origination of the Ebola Virus. There are theories which suggest that it originates from bats, monkeys, or apes but the origination of the virus is ultimately unknown. More so, we are unable to create vaccines and cures for this very deadly virus. The Ebola Virus is fatal and its victims die quickly. During its initial stages, doctor’s find it difficult to distinguish symptoms of the Ebola Virus from the common flu. Doctors and those fighting to overcome this outbreak of the Ebola Virus are not afraid of the disease spreading too far and too quickly for several reasons. First of all, Central Congo is more of a remote region which keeps the outbreak centralized within the area, but it also slows down the advancing of supplies and medical aid to the infected areas. Second, those infected with the virus die quickly and therefore, don’t have much time or opportunity to spread the disease elsewhere.