Ebola is detected through a blood test; however, only after certain symptoms have become fully evident in a patient. The problem with this is that the general lack of knowledge and resources in West Africa are helping the virus to continue spreading. West Africa is very underdeveloped and therefore clinical care is not readily available to communities so infected people remain untreated and continue to transmit the infection to everyone around them. Some people even flee healthcare workers because they believe Ebola is a plot to intentionally infect and kill a mass population of Africans. Similar problems arose in early modern Europe because an effective treatment did not exist to combat the Black Plague and people believed it was the direct work of the devil or demonic beings.
Drugs and antivirals of all kinds are ineffective combating the Ebola virus. Treatment merely consists of pain-management, control of fever, vomiting, bleeding, and diarrhea, and ensuring the body is nourished with necessary nutrients, electrolytes, and fluids.
"Ministry of health RN carries medical supplies to makeshift clinic"
Sierra Leone, Africa
"The body of a man thought to have died of Ebola on a Monrovia, Liberia street on Monday. The Liberian president has implored President Obama to do more." -NY Times
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