Genes determine if you will survive Ebola virus

Zee Media Bureau/Shruti Saxena

New Delhi: Deadly virus Ebola has induced panic all over the world. Ever thought as to what ascertains whether a person will survive the deadly virus or succumb to death?

Researchers at the Washington University believe that the genetics of a person can provide clue to track whether a person infected with Ebola will survive or die.

Virologists Angela Rasmussen and Michael Katze developed a mice model as part of which they examined 47 breeds by infecting mice with MA-EBOV to see how they responded.

The various breeds of mice showed varied responses like some had severe illness while others had internal bleeding etc that match with the diverse clinical results just like in human beings.

The new findings could certainly pave way for the development of vaccine to treat the deadly virus.

Research findings have been published in the journal Science.

By far, there are no proven vaccines or cure available for Ebola.

The 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the worst on record since its first outbreak in 1976.

There have been over 10,000 reported cases and nearly 5,000 deaths from the disease in Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea since the latest outbreak began, according to the World Health Organization.