A study led by Public Health England (PHE) has established that the Ebola virus responsible for the latest outbreak in West Africa didn’t mutate as fast as previously thought and if compared with mutations during previous outbreak, the current mutation rate is only slightly higher. This reassuring study has been published in Nature.
During the initial days of the outbreak, scientists speculated that the virus’ mutation rate may be twice that of previous outbreaks. To verify whether this was actually the case, scientists analysed 179 patient samples obtained by the European Mobile Laboratory (EMLab), which was deployed to the epicentre of the outbreak in Guinea, to reveal how the Ebola virus mutated and spread.
Analysis of the samples confirmed that the virus was introduced into the Guinean population in December 2013 at a single source, supporting theories from epidemiologists (scientists who investigate the spread of disease). Scientists believe the virus was initially transmitted from a bat to a 2 year old boy in Guinea.
Further, the team was also able to establish that how the virus spilled into Sierra Leone from Guinea in April or early May 2014. Notably, a large number of the early cases in different regions of Sierra Leone can be linked to a single funeral.
Lead author Professor Miles Carroll, Head of Research Microbiology Services for PHE, revealed that their analysis confirms that the Ebola virus responsible for the current outbreak mutated at a similar rate to the earlier outbreaks in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Pegging the results as good news for the scientific community that is working to develop a long-term solution for Ebola, Carroll added that this almost similar rate of mutation means that new interventions should still work against the mutated strains of the virus.
“Currently, rehydration and replacement of critical elements appear to be the best way to improve a patient’s chances of surviving Ebola”, the professor added.
The researcher said that according to their theory of how Ebola kills a patient, it is based on the host’s genetic makeup rather than changes in the virus itself. He added that their next next study will investigate this theory which may lead to improved treatment options.
