Ebolavirus – the ideal terrorist weapon
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Wyższa Szkoła Gospodarki Euroregionalnej
im. Alcide De Gasperi w Józefowie
Publication date: 2014-12-31
JoMS 2014;23(4):263-284
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
The Ebolavirus (EV) causes a severe, often fatal infectious disease
which is rated to the hemorrhagic fevers. Numerous outbreaks of Ebola
virus over the last three decades have perpetuated a sense of fear and eco-
nomic chaos in local and regional communities in Africa. Until recently, it
has been considered as affecting only the African region, which is not true.
The frequency of outbreaks has increased since the 1970s. The World
Health Organization (WHO) has declared the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Western
Africa to be public health emergency and the most severe in history.
The price of living in a „Global Village” is a high risk of intercontinental
virus transmission to virtually any part of the world for this purpose
using modern means of transport and general lifestyle. Clinical symptoms
of Ebola typically appear after an incubation period of approximately
11 days, so it causes difficulties in diagnoses. A flu-like symptoms may progress
to full hemorrhagic fever with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome
and frequently lead to death.
This article presents Ebola virus and depicts virus as an excellent agent
that could be used by terrorist groups to achieve their evil, social, political
or religious goals. The article presents the etiology of 2014 Ebola virus
outbreak in West Africa, the threat, ways to fight with EV and outbreak
and the costs. This article will help readers illustrate what might happen if
this dangerous pathogen, one of the factors of biological weapons of mass
destruction, will get into the wrong hands.