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The problem with all the epidemiological response protocols to Ebola is that so many are based on laboratory tests and not clinical symptoms (which are admitted
by jnbiche 13y ago
The problem with all the epidemiological response protocols to Ebola is that so many are based on laboratory tests and not clinical symptoms (which are admittedly complex since they can mimic other more common African hemorrhagic diseases like hantavirus).
Normally, that's a highly accurate way to diagnose confirmed cases, but in this instance, these same lab tests were highly misleading, since the genome of the Ebola virus responsible for this outbreak had shifted so much that it can not be detected by some of the lab assays used by regional labs. This discrepancy may have even prolonged the outbreak.
- Fomite 13y agoHantavirus is not only not more common, but not so much a disease in Africa. Africa is full of hemorrhagic diseases: Lassa Fever, Marburg, or Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever. But not so much Hantavirus.
- biehl 13y agoI salute your appropriate username.
- jnbiche 13y agoYou're correct. I was thinking of Lassa when I wrote Hantavirus. Of course, Hantavirus was responsible for the "Four Corners" virus in N. America, and more commonly in S. America, if I recall correctly. It's been over a decade since I worked in infectious disease epi, and even then not in tropical diseases, so I'm lucky to remember anything at all. But my point stands: Africa is full of hemorrhagic fevers, which makes symptomatic diagnosis of Ebola difficult.