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Fabian LeendertzExpert from the Institute named after. Robert Koch from Berlin
Country:
 Germany |
Content:
- The Role of Bats in the Ebola Epidemic
- The First Victim
- Institute's Investigation
- A New Hypothesis
- Further Testing
- The Ebola Crisis in Liberia
- The Impact of the Ebola Epidemic
The Role of Bats in the Ebola Epidemic
The large fruit bats, known as flying foxes, have been considered the main culprits behind the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. However, experts from the Robert Koch Institute in Berlin have discovered that these bats were not involved in the tragedy.
The First Victim
The first victim of the deadly disease was a two-year-old boy named Emil Kuamouno, who played with a small insect-eating bat in the hollow of a large tree. The details of this incident were revealed by German epidemiologists in an article published in the journal 'EMBO Molecular Medicine'.
Institute's Investigation
Representatives from the Robert Koch Institute, including Fabian Lenderz, were responsible for collecting samples from animals. They also interviewed residents of the village of Meliandu in Gueckedou, Guinea. It was discovered that the young boy from this village, who died on January 6, 2013, was the first victim of Ebola. He infected his entire family. It was revealed that this boy, along with other children, spent a lot of time playing with bats in the hollow of a large tree.
A New Hypothesis
Until this discovery, most scientists believed that the source of the virus was the larger fruit bats that include fruits in their diet, and are often hunted for their meat. However, the German epidemiologists concluded that none of the initial Ebola victims in Meliandu were infected from eating bat meat. Molecular analysis and environmental samples led to the conclusion that insect-eating bats were more likely carriers of the virus. These creatures prefer to nest under the roofs of houses. Children from the village not only catch bats to play with them but also enjoy roasting them over fires.
Further Testing
A total of 169 bats were tested, including fruit bats and some from other species living in the village. None of the tests showed positive results for Ebola, but scientists are confident that the virus is present in a small portion of the bat population. Researchers are trying to collect more bats for further examination.
The Ebola Crisis in Liberia
The bodies of Ebola victims are highly contagious, and many who washed or simply touched the dead before burial became infected. Cremation itself is highly unpopular in Liberia, where careful adherence to burial rituals is usually observed. The Liberian government has allocated 25 acres of land for the burial of Ebola victims. Over 2,000 suspected victims of the epidemic had to be cremated several months ago, during the peak of the crisis in Liberia.
The Impact of the Ebola Epidemic
According to the World Health Organization, as of December 30, 2014, a total of 20,129 people were affected by the ongoing Ebola fever, with 7,879 deaths reported. The outbreak has mainly affected Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea.
