This article is original by Translational Medicine Network. Please indicate the source for reprinting.
Author: Liz Zee
Guide: Scientists already know that Ebola virus may be lurking in the survivors. The test result is negative because the virus is present in the tissues instead of circulating in the blood. Ebola survivors may recur after at least five years of infection and cause an epidemic again. Long-term follow-up of previous patients is required to prevent a catastrophic epidemic.
An article titled "Resurgence of Ebola virus in 2021 in Guinea suggests a new paradigm for outbreaks" published yesterday in "Nature", analyzed the outbreak in Guinea this year and found that viruses in these "virus databases" It may wake up and cause a new round of infection and spread in a few years.
In order to trace the source of the outbreak in Guinea, the researchers analyzed the sample genomes of several patients, including 16 confirmed cases, 12 of which died.
Ebola virus outbreaks are generally considered to be the result of the virus "spreading" from animal hosts to humans. However, analysis shows that the Guinea strain is almost identical to the 2013-16 strain. If the virus has been actively circulating in the population since then, then as it spreads, a certain number of mutations will accumulate. However, the virus that broke out in Guinea in 2021 only had 12 gene mutations, "far below expectations...after all, the virus spreads from person to person in six years."
University of Montpellier (University of Montpellier) researcher Alpha Keita said,This strongly suggests that the source of the virus is reactivated viruses that once lurked in the survivors. He told AFP: "This is the longest known time between the announcement of the end of the epidemic and the resurgence of the virus. This is a new paradigm: was carried by an infected person during the last virus epidemic. The virus may be the source of a new outbreak. "How and why the latent Ebola virus suddenly awakened and infected people with the virus, although there are some attractive clues, it is still a mystery.
Sometimes, the Ebola antibody in a survivor will surge in a certain period of time-this may be the body's response to the revived virus. Keita said that about two-thirds of Ebola survivors still have high levels of antibody even after five years of infection, but "the problem is that if 's immune system relapses, it will What happened ".
Robert F. Garry of Tulane University's School of Medicine said the findings of this study "have important implications for public health and the care of Ebola survivors." He wrote in a research review commissioned by "Nature" magazine: "Humans can now be included in the list of intermediate hosts. These hosts will serve as a long-term'viral reservoir' for the Ebola virus and trigger a new round of epidemics. "He believes it is necessary to prioritize medical staff to be vaccinated and monitor Ebola survivors for signs of deterioration.
Keita hopes to reconsider the term "Ebola survivors" to include not only those who struggle with symptoms, but also those who may have been infected but have no symptoms (ie, asymptomatic infections). He warned that even asymptomatic infections may be the source of the outbreak. " We need to develop a long-term effective follow-up medical plan for former Ebola patients and their contacts, so that we can detect the recurrence of the previously infected patients in time." However, he reminded that in order to avoid rejection of survivors, follow-up actions must be taken cautiously. Trudie Lang, director of the Oxford University Global Health Network, agrees. He said: "Some people think that these survivors have survived. Is a hero. However, if people are worried that these people will bring risks, they may also be stigmatized and rejected.
Lang was not involved in the study. He called this "important new evidence" and reminded people of the need to support research on threats other than COVID-19. Keita said this study paved the way for various other studies. The road, including the reasons for the recovery of the Ebola virus, and the possibility of eradicating the Ebola virus from the survivors.
The re-emergence of the Ebola virus in Guinea was caused by the awakening of the latent virus in the Ebola survivors. Although somewhat unbelievable, it has been previously reported that people who have recovered from new crown virus may be infected again. After all, these two situations are the same situation.
So, after the global clearing of new crown cases in the future , Is there a possibility of another outbreak? Just like the Ebola virus, it lurks in the survivors and coexists with people. Once the survivors’ immunity is reduced, the virus will take the opportunity to recover and spread again. There is no new crown antibody in the body. People are easily infected. Since we have no way to eradicate the virus, we should do as much protection as possible and try our best to protect ourselves from the virus. Fortunately, we are now ready to help survivors and their contacts A long-term and effective follow-up medical plan has been formulated so that the latent virus in the survivors can be detected and the virus can be prevented from spreading to the greatest extent.
Reference materials:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586 -021-03901-9#MOESM2
Note: This article is intended to introduce the progress of medical research and cannot be used as a reference for treatment plans. If you need health guidance, please go to a regular hospital.
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