Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ebola Essay Barrie Graham PDF
Ebola Essay Barrie Graham PDF
!
Salmata Barrie and Sara Graham
Bethany Smith
Honors English II
1 December 2015
The Microscopic Assassin
Deep in the depths of the forest a danger to humanity is festering once again to wreak
havoc on mankind. This worldwide antagonist is known to man as Ebola. Ebola is an infectious
and lethal disease. The recent outbreak of Ebola has caused unspeakable harm, afflicting not only
Africa but the whole world, and requires a global effort to minimize its aftermath.
The most deadly killers cant always be seen with the naked eye. Ebola is one of these
predators. This severe disease causes a viral hemorrhagic fever (Willett 4). The most recent
outbreak started in Sierra Leone in March of 2014, with an average fatality rate of thirty-nine
percent, which spread to Liberia and Guinea (Cook). Although this is the largest outbreak of
Ebola ever recorded, past occurrences have reached fatality rates of ninety percent. Reportedly
thirty thousand men and women of all ages were infected by the recent outbreak (Davieson 17).
However, it does not stop at human beings. Ebola also infects nonhuman primates such as
monkeys & chimpanzees (Willett 4). Ebola is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids.
Early symptoms include sweating and headaches, with muscle and body pain that can lead to
vomiting, fatigue, and dehydration. Many victims near death become helpless and begin shaking
with external bleeding usually coming from the mouth (This Ebola). The virus has heavily
impacted the West African region and caused devastating aftermath.