U.S.: 1, Future Terrorists: 0. Researchers in Arizona might have finally discovered a possible vaccine to combat the Ebola virus. The Ebola virus is of African origin. Though it is very rare to contract (1,850 cases since 1976), it is extremely deadly (1,200 deaths). Victims of the Ebola virus experience organ failure after the immune system is overtaken by the virus.Researchers found the vaccination after testing a vaccine consisting of a tobacco plant and an antibody combined together. The vaccine was then given to ten lab mice, which were then infected with Ebola. Out of the ten mice given the vaccine, 8 were able to overcome the disease. Though more research needs to be conducted, it is a positive sign for prevention from the thirty five year old disease, which has no current vaccination.
“The virus has a natural reservoir in several species of the African fruit bat. Gorillas and other non-human primates are also susceptible to the disease.” Researchers believe the virus is zoonotic and found in African primates. Not enough is known about the reservoir and it is one of things scientists need to further investigate.
The virus has long been feared as a biological weapon. The disease’s deadliness and discreetness have caused officials to be concerned about the Ebola virus. The government has attempted to store samples of the disease to use in case of a biological attack, but none of which survived. With an incubation period of 2-21 days, the virus can be spread through contact with an infected person’s blood or secretions. Also, with no current vaccine or standard treatment, a bioterrorist attack could be catastrophic.
This article relates to the Black Plague being used as a weapon of war. When bodies of infected soldiers were thrown over the walls of Caffa, no vaccine or treatment for the plague existed, thus, nearly wiping out the population.
I found this article interesting due to the fact that I had never heard of the virus before. With every 2 in 3 people dying from the disease, I assumed it would be more commonly known. I also found it interesting due to how effective the disease can be to use in a terrorist attack. The disease has no vaccine or well developed treatment. A terrorist attack using Ebola could be devastating.
From reading this article, I wondered if the United States is prepared for a biological attack. Do we have the resources in place to deal with the disease? Will an attack affect our civil rights and liberties? And if we are prepared, what is our response plan? Would there need to be another 9/11 type incident for us to fully realize the threat of bioterrorism?
I believe that, though we cannot fully prepare ourselves for an attack, we can focus on having measures planned out to be put in place in case of an attack and more research on diseases that can used by terrorists against us.
Source: New York Daily Times (12/12/11)
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I thought this post was very interesting, especially because I had never heard of Ebola before. It's scary to think that two out of every three people who contract Ebola die from the disease, yet it is still widely unknown because it is very rare. This post also made me wonder if there was less research being done to find a vaccine or cure for Ebola because it is so rare, and if more common deadly diseases are researched more. It is also frightening to think that all humans are in danger of being victims of bioterrorism, which can cause havoc across the world. Reading this post made me think back to the unit about smallpox when we learned about the Columbian Exchange, when diseases such as typhus and measles were accidentally spread throughout Europe. If one can unknowingly spread a disease, it must be fairly easy to knowingly spread a disease through bioterrorism.
ReplyDeleteI also had never heard of Ebola. I don't believe that we would be ready for a biological attack but this seems to be a step in the right direction. How many of those who contract the disease and then die from it is shocking. Especially since it doesn't seem to be a well known disease. It really makes you consider how many diseases are fatal without even being known about.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is no way to fully prepare ourselves for an attack of biological warfare. It's hard to tell when or how it will be implemented and can sneak up on a population and grip it fast without anyone noticing. Also, with so many different possible diseases in the world it's impossible to have plans for all of them. The response for an attack of anthrax would be different for an attack of a flu-like virus.
ReplyDeleteThis article is very interesting, i agree that it is weird that such a deadly disease is not more commonly known. I'm curious as to why it is not. Also i agree that there is no way for us to be fully prepared if there was a attack of biological warfare. I think that we would be able to find a cure faster if this disease was more commonly known by people because it is so deadly, more people would be willing to help and donate to the development of a cure.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting post, especially right after we pulled out of Iraq. We all have terrorism on our minds, and this article definitely shows us that even Micro-terrorism is a huge threat to all of us as a society. We all live normal lives and not many people understand what is really happening over in the wars except the people that are there. We are always in danger of things like this, and with a disease like Ebola that we don't know much about, it is a huge issue that we need to try to find a solution to. It might seem like something new and alien, but it is a serious threat to everyone.
ReplyDeletePrior to reading this article I have heard of Ebola before, and I knew that it is an absolutely terrifying disease. I did not know though, that the U.S. was trying to make a vaccine for it in case of a biological attack. I think that although it is good to be prepared, if the time comes when there is a biological terror attack on the U.S. I wonder how they would go about distributing the vaccine and if it would be effective in salvaging the population of the cities that were attacked.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading this article, I did not know what Ebola was, or how it can affect the person. I think this article really connects to our class, especially the information about how long the incubation period of the virus is and the different ways it can spread. Since I had never heard of this virus before, I was a little taken back that so many people who get it can eventually die. With a statistic of a 2/3 death rate, I would think scientists and doctors would do a better job of making people aware of this virus. I then got to thinking of what the US would actually to if there ever was a bioterrorism attack. Would we be prepared against viruses we barely know about? It's a frightening concept to think about, that's for sure. I think this article ties into the many units we've studied because we seem to be lacking in intelligence about this virus, just as many people in the past didn't know how to cure the sicknesses they were getting.
ReplyDeleteI've heard of the Ebola virus in passing, but have never heard about it discussed in any historical context.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of bio-terrorism, I'm not sure if we should see it as a threat or be worried about it because so few people are aware of it. On the flipside of that, not knowing about it could be the very reason that it would be a threat. Also, given the nature of how it's spread, I would say that it would be most dangerous during a period of war where open wounds are rampant. So I suppose in that case it would be relevant.
This post was very intersting, I never heard of the Ebola virus before reading this. I don't believe there is anyway to fully prepare ourselves for a biological warfare. It would be even harder to fight it as well since we don't have a treatment for the virus yet. But at the same time, I feel like we don't have to worry about it as much because if it is spread by coming in contact with an infected persons blood or secretions, that would more likely happen in war and not in everyday life.
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