Africa can be quite an adventure for travelers with the sweeping landscapes and the rich culture of the people. However, this continent also harbors many different tropical diseases which have killed millions of people around the world. One of these diseases, Ebola, is particularly scary because it is often fatal.

The Ebola virus originated in the tropical rain forests of Africa with animals such as the monkey mostly infected. This virus is transmitted from the animal to humans where it can then take a life of its own with transmission from human to human by direct contact with bodily fluids such as blood, saliva, semen and more.

Defining the Virus

Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever which is perhaps the deadliest of all tropical viral fevers. While some people infected are “lucky” enough to contract mild forms, many cases progress to potentially fatal proportions. This disease starts with flu-like symptoms and can progress into hemorrhaging and organ shut-down.

Viruses from four different viral families are likely culprits of Ebola and it depends on the geographical area as to what particular virus is the cause. Bunyaviruses, filoviruses, flaviviruses and arenaviruses are the four families and animals such as monkeys and rodents typically carry the virus as well as bugs and insects that feed off of them like mosquitoes and ticks.

Signs of Ebola

As mentioned before, Ebola can start with flu-like symptoms such as fever, headaches, muscle pain and sore throat. Next, diarrhea and vomiting occur along with a rash. Liver and kidney often start to work in a diminished capacity and both external and internal hemorrhaging (bleeding) can occur.

Symptoms of Ebola typically start anywhere from two days to three weeks after initial exposure to the disease. Unless treatment is started immediately, as in the very first signs, the death toll could range anywhere from 50-85%.

The reason why Ebola is common in underdeveloped areas like Africa is because the medical care there is not up to the standards of the United States and other industrialized nations. Medical workers often have to re-use syringes and needles and often don’t have adequate protective gear. Besides personal contact with someone infected, this is how the disease can also spread.

Treatment and Prevention of the Disease

Because it is a virus, there is no known cure for Ebola. In addition, there are no effective vaccines either. This is the reason why the death rate can be quite high – there is almost nothing that can be done other than treat the symptoms like provide pain medications and fluids to prevent dehydration.

The best way to protect you is to avoid the areas where Ebola occurs. If you plan to travel to Africa, contact the Center for Disease Control (CDC) to find out if there are any travel advisories to the area you plan to visit. Even if there are no advisories, you should still try and avoid rural areas as well as protect yourself from mosquito and bug bites. Do not try to handle any animals, particularly monkeys, even if they appear domesticated. One of the first outbreaks of Ebola started with an infected monkey.
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Not as well known as other tropical diseases, the Buruli ulcer is still an infection to be reckoned with. Caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans, this bacterium is in the same family as the bacteria that cause leprosy and even tuberculosis, two infections more known worldwide.

Infection from this Buruli bacteria causes quite a bit of damage to the soft tissues and the skin with the formation of ulcers. These ulcerated areas usually occur on the arms or legs. If these Buruli ulcers are not treated in the early stages of the disease, sufferers not only have to live with ugly deformed skin but also considerable pain in the joints as well as partial immobility.

Up to 50 countries worldwide with sub-tropical and tropical environments have incidences of Buruli ulcer disease with even more not readily identified. Africa, the Western Pacific areas, Central and South America, parts of Australia and even China have reported cases of Buruli. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls this disease one of the neglected tropical diseases as not much is known about it.

Likely Causes of Buruli Ulcer Disease

Many researchers believe that the bacterium which causes Buruli is environmentally based in specific niche areas. As of right now, they believe that aquatic areas are the likely breeding grounds but there is still no idea of exactly how the bacteria is transmitted to humans. The theory is that somehow the bacteria enter the human body through a previous wound or trauma to the skin. In addition, some aquatic insects do harbor the bacteria in their saliva but are not always known to bite.

There are various strains of these bacteria depending on where the disease occurs.It is not the bacteria themselves that cause the ulcerated areas that are identified as Buruli ulcer disease but the toxin they produce. This toxin called mycolactone is what causes the damage to the soft tissues and skin and hinders the body’s immunological response.

Buruli ulcer disease is often diagnosed in people who live near bodies of water like lakes, swamp areas, sluggish flowing water and ponds. Risk factors are those people who wade and play in these water ways as well as farmers in the region who use the water sources for irrigation. Seasons do not affect the rate or timing of infection and there is no predisposition as to which sex the disease occurs in more.

Symptoms and Treatment of Buruli

A nodule usually forms first just under the skin, with some swelling and no accompanying pain. The swelling can extend beyond the nodule area too. Sometimes, instead of a nodule, a pimple-like formation occurs. Eventually the bacterium affects the tissue and become necrotic which leads to the ugly, potentially disfiguring ulcers. Fever and secondary infections typically occur around the site as well.

Diagnosis is usually made definitively through cultures taken from the ulcer itself. Treatment is usually a combination of several things. First, there are strong antibiotics that are given for several months and do not have to be administered at a hospital unless the Buruli ulcer disease is advanced.

Surgery is also an option to remove dead tissue as well as cosmetically correct any disfigurements. There are other medical interventions that may be employed to minimize disability and mobility.

The average traveler is not likely to contract Buruli ulcer disease. However it is a possibility if you are working in one of the target countries for peace or medical missions. These capacities often come in close contact to the aquatic areas which could be affected by the bacteria.
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