The Ebola Virus and Psychology - Essay Example

"The Ebola Virus and Psychology" is an outstanding example of a paper on the virus. 
Case Description:

The article describes the presence of Ebola, a disease caused by the Ebola virus that affects internal human organs (Hewlett, 2008). Patients suffer from a sore throat, fever, muscle pain, and headaches. Vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding then follow due to the decreased function of the kidneys and the liver. The disease has affected most West African countries after a widespread outbreak (Farge, 2015). The disease has been compared to other viral infections due to the high mortality rate in its patients.

Psychological application

The case study is an example of a viral disease that has a high-risk death of about 90% of patients that are infected (Hewlett, 2008). Increased blood loss causes low blood pressure in patients two weeks after contracting the disease. Since its diagnosis, it has not preferred a cure or vaccine. However, the case study shows that Japanese scientists have come up with a test drug that could heal Ebola. Factors such as age, time of infection, and genetics can be used to tell the level of the Ebola virus present in a patient's blood. Such factors have reduced the drug's efficiency in curing diseases. It is caused by direct contact with body fluids. 

As the disease progresses, most patients die from psychological factors such as fear. The factor causes most patients not to undertake treatment due to the mindset that the disease is incurable. Nevertheless, patients with positive attitudes overcome the virus with the help of proper health care. The cure has healed various patients in the country amidst debates on its efficiency.

The disease has led to increased scientific research where biologists work to come up with a vaccine that will reduce further infection. Infected states have been forced to cut off contact with other countries due to the risk of spreading the disease. However, doctors from scientifically advanced countries are still providing assistance to patients despite contact barriers. Most of the doctors that have contracted the infection have undergone treatment and recovered.

Ebola has led to psychological aspects since individuals in infected countries cannot leave to reduce its spread in other countries. However, the rules are not fair because uninfected patients do not have places of refuge in case the disease continues to spread. Additionally, patients that have overcome the disease also suffer from trauma due to their small numbers. A family whose most of its members have died of Ebola may suffer from fear and trauma and take longer to heal since there is no approved cure.