Recently, 22 international experts gathered to put their heads together on findings related to the Ebola Reston virus. From health experts to veterinarians, discoveries were made regarding its pathology and epidemiology.
There are four strains of Ebola, three of which kill between 25% and 90% of humans they effect. The Ebola Reston, however, is the one that seemingly had no effect, although its contact with humans has been relatively low – therefore, a little difficult to come to a sound conclusion.
Health officials, then, became worried when last year a discovery of the virus was found in pigs in the Philippines. Once in the pigs, humans – farmers especially – are at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.
After tests and further investigations were performed on the pigs, they discovered that once the virus made its way inside the pig, it is possible for the virus to mutate to a lethal version.
Although this does not necessarily mean the same outcome for a healthy individual, it is still worrisome. Ebola expert Pierre Rollin, from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and part of the mission explained that regardless of the research they have made so far, it is not enough. “We still don’t know what it might do to someone who is immunocompromised by HIV or by drugs,” he explained. So it is important to continuously move forward.
So far, human health seems hardly threatened. The Reston virus can be destroyed by cooking, the reasoning why it is not akin to the other three Ebola types. Pig-handlers, too, are so far symptom-free, but they are continuing their investigating by testing them to ensure they haven’t developing antibodies to the virus. Rollin and his team is taking precautionary measures to find the source of the disease, and do everything possible to avoid further breakouts and issues.
Read the full story at nature.com/news/2009/090121/full/457364b.html
Image courtesy of setapartchrist.blogspot.com
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