Fruit bats could be responsible for the Ebola epidemic

Ebola epidemic may be triggered by fruit bats

08/03/2014

The dangerous Ebola epidemic, which has already claimed more than 700 lives in West Africa, may have been triggered by fruit bats. The wildlife could have introduced the pathogen from Central Africa. The problem is that the animals in the region are sometimes consumed.

Infected fox possibly pulled from Central to West Africa
According to scientists, the Ebola epidemic in West Africa is likely due to fruit bats. According to a news agency dpa, poverty and underdevelopment drove people to hunt ever deeper into the woods. Researchers report in the journal „PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases“, either some of the animals in the region have long been carriers of the virus or an infected flying fox has migrated from Central Africa. It is currently being investigated whether animals in the region actually have Ebola pathogens.

Dangerous of the five Ebola pathogens
The current outbreak is due to the Zaire Ebola virus (ZEBOV), one of five known types of pathogens. With a mortality rate of up to 90 percent, this species is the most dangerous of the species. This virus was first detected in 1976 in today's Congo, since then there have been several outbreaks in Central African regions. However, these are thousands of miles away from the west of the continent, where the Zaire Ebola virus was never detected until a few months ago. But since February, the dangerous infectious disease has already claimed at least 729 lives, about 1,300 people have been infected.

The pathogen was probably not brought to Guinea by a human
Daniel Bausch of the Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, Louisiana, and Lara Schwarz of McGill University in Montreal, Canada, say that it is unlikely that a human took the pathogen to Guinea: „There are hardly any regular trade or travel routes between Central Africa and Guinea, and Guéckédou - the Ebola epicenter, where the virus probably first appeared - is far away.“ According to the scientist duo, three species are possible as transmitters: hammer head (Hypsignathus monstrosus), Franquet-Epaulette flying fox (Epomops franqueti) and small-grain fox (Myonycteris torquata).

Social and political conditions complicit in epidemic
Since Ebola viruses are mainly transmitted when in contact with body fluids, the United Nations had warned weeks ago to hunt and eat fruit bats and other wildlife in the area. According to the UN nutrition organization FAO, the animals are dried in West Africa or eaten in spicy soups. Social and political conditions in the affected countries are largely responsible for the fact that an epidemic has even occurred. This is true for outbreaks of Ebola as well as for other hemorrhagic fevers. „Such epidemics do not happen by chance - often in areas where the economy and public health are down after decades of civil war.“ The three countries that are currently the most affected - Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone - have all suffered from severe political turmoil in the past.

Neither vaccine nor remedies available
Poverty and underdevelopment drive people to hunt ever deeper into the forests. As Busch and Schwarz write, it increases the risk of becoming infected in wildlife. Although only recently was read: „Vaccine against Ebola virus should work“, There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease available. Doctors often have to confine themselves to alleviating the typical Ebola symptoms such as fever, diarrhea or internal and external bleeding and prevent further spread.

First infections earlier than expected
However, there is little medical equipment and other materials to stem the spread of disease. This starts with protective gloves, masks, clean needles and disinfectants. In addition, the poor coordination and monitoring mechanisms of the Länder are the third factor added. In order to get to the root of the outbreak, Bausch had visited both Guinea and Sierra Leone in recent months. The first cases of Ebola in Guinea were registered in March, but in retrospect it was concluded that the first infections had already occurred in December 2013. The mortality rate of registered cases is currently well over 50 percent. (Ad)