Data from two different studies show that a mutation in the Ebola virus made the epidemic more deadly in West Africa.
The Ebola virus spread across Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone beginning December 2013, killIing more than 11,310 people. Scientists have linked the rapid spread of the virus to various factors such as poverty, the absence of adequate healthcare, and risky burial practices. Now, a new study adds that a mutation in the virus made it easier for it to enter the human cell.
Two studies have been conducted to describe the mutation in the Ebola virus. The Verge reported that the first study examined the genome of the virus during different stages of the outbreak, along with the health of those infected. They have discovered that twice has many infected patients died during the outbreak of a more lethal strain, as compared to those who have been infected with the previous strain. This suggests that the virus had mutated and became more deadly as it infected more people.
In the second study, scientists discovered two variations of the Ebola virus. The first variation came from early in the outbreak, while the other variation was more widely distributed. While studying the changes in its DNA, they have found that a mutation enabled the virus to infect the human cell.
Scientists believe that the Ebola virus may have developed other mutations that have not been uncovered yet. Jonathan Ball, a molecular virologist, told Scientific American that studying mutations is important because it is surprising how even the slightest change can cause so much damage.