Nearly 200 people have died in the recent Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since the outbreak began, it has also spread to several neighboring countries, including Uganda and Angola. The World Health Organization has named this epidemic as a soon-to-be pandemic and recommends travelers and citizens of these countries getting vaccinated.

In response to the outbreak, Uganda has begun vaccinating front line healthcare workers. However, this vaccine is not available for public use and is only used as a precaution for healthcare workers in the most at-risk areas.

“Vaccines are important, although they might be expensive, I believe we should take them,” junior Honami Inoue said.

The World Health Organization states that Ebola vaccines are being experimented with in order to test for accuracy and effectiveness against the disease.

“I was not aware of the situation in Congo, but I believe that the more vaccines available to the public, the better,” senior Ethan Anderson said.

The Ebola virus is a rare and deadly disease that affects humans and many nonhuman primates and is caused by a group of viruses with the genus Ebolavirus. It was first found in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976, and the nation has had several outbreaks since. Scientists do not know where the Ebola virus comes from but predicts that its transmitted by animal vectors including bats and pigs.

The virus affects humans through direct contact with bodily fluids. This can occur when a person touches the infected body fluids and the virus gets in through broken skin or through the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth and nose. The virus can also spread through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected animals or through sexual contact.

Infected people often have symptoms of pain in the abdomen and chest, chills and incessant vomiting. Because this illness is a virus, there are no specific treatments for Ebola besides general supportive care, blood transfusions and IV fluids. Within three weeks, the infected patient can have severe bleeding, organ failure and possibly death.

Although this virus is not a major threat in North America, it is a significant issue in many countries in Africa, specifically Congo. Congo is currently involved in a border war with two separate rebel militias, the Allied Democratic Forces and the Mai Mai, a term referring to community-based milita groups that defend their local terriroty. Over the past year, they have engaged in warfare with Beni, a major city in Congo, and abducted 12 children and killed 13 adults. Many residents of Beni believe the situation will only become worse and cause even more discourse with the national government.

In addition, the Congolese militia and government are having a hard time encouraging the public to agree to take vaccinations and preventive care. Many of the citizens believe that the vaccine will make them infertile or even cause premature death. Others believe that the vaccine will have bad spiritual effects and that vaccines are satanic.

“It’s important to keep your immune system up by eating vegetables that are high in Vitamin C and minerals,” Guilford Guide Amber Slade said.

The lack of security for health professionals and volunteers in addition to the dangerous political climate of Congo and surrounding countries gives this outbreak of Ebola the potential to be the worst epidemic in over 20 years. Dr. Tedros Adhanom, the General Director of the World Health Organization stated that he never had to deal with an epidemic so complicated.