Discover genetic clues about Ebola outbreak

Scientists have tracked the spread of Ebola virus in West Africa and obtained genetic evidence of the outbreak.

The result of genetic analysis for the diseased specimens, Ebola virus spread from Guinea to Sierra Leone at a funeral.

American and African experts warn, the Ebola virus is changing and needs to be controlled quickly. However, they say, there is still no evidence that the virus is changing behavior.

Experts at Kenema government hospital in Sierra Leone are watching Ebola outbreak.(Photo: BBC)

The Ebola epidemic is currently the largest outbreak in history, with more than 3,000 cases. According to the World Health Organization, the number of Ebola infections is expected to exceed 20,000 before the epidemic is prevented.

"We have discovered more than 300 genetic clues about the factors that make this outbreak different from the previous outbreaks. Although we are not clear whether these differences are related to the severity of the outbreak. or not, but by sharing this data with the research community, we hope to accelerate the understanding of this disease and support global efforts to control it , " Dr. Stephen Gire from Harvard Broad and Institute (USA), said.

The data published in Science shows that Ebola virus has leaped from animal to human only once in the current outbreak. This Ebola strain has been present in Central Africa for the past 10 years, possibly thanks to intermediate animals that eat berries or primates.

In this outbreak, the first case of people infected with Ebola appeared in Guinea, then the pathogen spread to Sierra Leone at the funeral of a traditional medicine physician.

Commenting on the study, Professor Jonathan Ball, a virus expert at the University of Nottingham (UK), emphasized: "It is clear that the Ebola virus is evolving. However, it is unclear, whether the changes are taking place. whether or not this virus affects its behavior ".