CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (I) by Marina Dorca

CMC'S NEWS' REVIEW (I) by Marina Dorca

News' title: Ebola update: Signs of hope.

Date of publication: September 12, 2014.

Source of information: Student Society for Science:

https://student.societyforscience.org/article/ebola-update-signs-hope

Scientific field: Biology and medicine

Extract:

The article explains the last-hour news of the Ebola's outbreak in West Africa, which has already caused 2400 deaths. A group of scientists analyze where the epidemic started, and they found out that it was probably due to a boy infected by an animal in Guinea. Furthermore, they achieve isolating Ebola viruses from people who contracted the disease in the early weeks of the outbreak. They discover that the viruses' genes were changing rapidly while the disease spread. In spite of the difficulty in finding a vaccine, it seems that treatment may be coming in two or three months time, as now it's been tested quite satisfactorily with animals. So, although it's a fatal outbreak that can carry on spreading for six to nine months, the last studies show there's still hope.

Critical appraisal:

Although it's said that there are lots of Ebola's researches going on at the moment, and there's been new discoveries, I actually think that's not enough. I'm not saying scientists aren't getting sufficiently involved in the investigations, as they clearly do. In my opinion, it has to do with presidents and ministers from all over the world, that prefer to look aside and ignore once more the forgotten continent.

I bet that if the outbreak has come out in Europe or North-America, it'll be far more under-control. So, the thing is, we have to start worrying about someone else but ourselves, if we want that imminent danger to fade away.

Glossary:

-Ebola   A family of viruses that cause a deadly disease in people. Most cases occur in Africa and Asia. Its symptoms include headaches, fever, muscle pain and extensive bleeding. The infection spreads from person to person (or animal to some person) through contact with infected body fluids.
-Epidemic  A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease that sickens many people in a community at the same time.
-Gene   (adj. genetic)A segment of DNA that codes, or holds instructions, for producing a protein. Offspring inherit genes from their parents. Genes influence how an organism looks and behaves.
-Genetic  Having to do with chromosomes, DNA and the genes contained within DNA. The field of science dealing with these biological instructions is known as genetics.
-Genome  The complete set of genes or genetic material in a cell or an organism.
-Germ  Any one-celled microorganism, such as a bacterium, fungal species or virus particle. Some germs cause disease. Others can promote the health of higher-order organisms, including birds and mammals. The health effects of most germs, however, remain unknown.
-Outbreak    The sudden emergence of disease in a population of people or animals.

Ebola virus