• Question: Do you think there is any cure for ebola?

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      Asked by alvaro02_bcn to Anais, katy, Lauren, Richard, Stuart on 10 Mar 2016.
      • Photo: Richard Friend

        Richard Friend answered on 10 Mar 2016:

        There is now! I don’t think it’s perfect but some of the people working in Ebola affected areas in Africa were taken back to the UK when they caught it, and we’re treated in hospital, and they got better. Though I think they still have a lot of problems caused by the disease even though they don’t have Ebola any more.

      • Photo: Lauren Laing

        Lauren Laing answered on 10 Mar 2016:

        At the moment there is no approved vaccine or medicine available for Ebola. Doctors treat the symptoms of Ebola and complications as they appear. Some basic treatments when used early, can really improve the chances of survival:

        • Providing intravenous fluids (IV) and balancing electrolytes (body salts).
        • Maintaining oxygen levels and blood pressure.
        • Treating other infections if they occur.

        Potential new vaccines and drug therapies are being developed and tested, so there is progress in this area!

      • Photo: Stuart Atkinson

        Stuart Atkinson answered on 15 Mar 2016:

        The disease is still poorly understood, with the origin, habitat and mode of outbreak not known. It’s assumed that an outbreak occurs when there is transmission from an infected animal to a human, and can then spread freely between humans.

        Because the origin and mode of outbreak are not known, there is no official means of prevention, and it is treated according to symptoms.

        At present there is no cure but hopefully this will change – there is a lot of work going on in this field.

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