How the deadly Ebola virus attacks the body

On Tuesday, the Ugandan Health Ministry declared an outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in Mubende district.

The ministry confirmed the first case of the highly contagious virus in a 24-year-old male, who presented Ebola symptoms and later succumbed.

The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976, and Fruit Bats are believed to be its natural host.

• The virus enters the body through contact with infected blood, urine, faeces, semen or other bodily fluids within an Incubation period of 2-21 days.
• It attacks the immune system, destroying white blood cells.
• Infected cells transport the Ebola virus throughout the body.
• It then forms blood clots that damage organs and also deplete clotting agents in the body, making the immune system into dangerous overdrive known as "cytokine storm".
• The Ebola virus can attack all organs in the body, including the brain, liver, kidneys, intestines, eyes, and genitals, leaving the overall vascular system damaged.
• It then leads to internal and external bleeding from wounds, mucus membranes and orifices. It also causes fever, vomiting, and intense diarrhoea.
• Death can be caused by organ failure or hypovolemic shock, the loss of more than 20 per cent of blood or fluid supply.
• Survivors are normally considered cured if the virus is no longer detectable in the bloodstream, typically within weeks of infection.

The source of this information is the World Health Organisation (WHO), CDC, Healthline and Boston University.