What is the Difference Between Ebola and Zika

The main difference between ebola and zika is that ebola causes viral hemorrhagic fever with symptoms like fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headache, whereas zika causes mild symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain.  

Ebola and zika are two viral diseases that cause similar symptoms, including fever, headache, and muscle and joint pain.  

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Ebola
     – Definition, Symptoms, Types
2. What is Zika
     – Definition, Symptoms, Genome
3. Similarities Between Ebola and Zika
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Ebola and Zika
     – Comparison of Key Differences

Key Terms

Ebola, Zika

What is Ebola

Ebola is a virus of the family of Filoviridae that causes the ebola virus disease. The main symptom of the ebola virus disease is a viral hemorrhagic fever. The symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headache. These primary symptoms are followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and rash. Generally, ebolavirus takes around two days to three weeks to show symptoms of the disease. The disease also decreases the function of the liver and kidney. Usually, this causes internal and external bleeding.

Figure 1: Ebola Virus

Furthermore, ebola is a disease that was identified in 1979 with two simultaneous outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan (now South Sudan). There are six species of ebolavirus, of which four cause disease in humans. They are Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Tai forest ebolavirus (TAFV), Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV). Reston ebolavirus (RESTV) is another type of ebolavirus that cause disease in primates. In addition, the other ebola virus is the Bombali ebolavirus. It is not pathogenic in humans.    

What is Zika

Zika is a viral disease caused by the Zika virus that belongs to the family Filoviridae. The viral disease spreads through the bite of the mosquito, A. aegypti, and A. albopictus. The disease arose from the Ziika Forest of Uganda. In addition, the zika virus shares common features with dengue, Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, and West Nile virus. It causes mild symptoms that are very similar to dengue fever. Generally, the main symptoms of zika virus disease include fever, headache, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain.

Figure 2: Zika Virus

Another significant feature of the Zika virus is that it can spread from a pregnant person to their baby. Meanwhile, this can cause congenital zika syndrome, which results in severe brain malformations, microcephaly, and other birth defects.  Furthermore, Zika virus contains a positive sense RNA genome that directly translates into viral protein. In addition, the RNA genome of the Zika virus contains seven nonstructural proteins.

Similarities Between Ebola and Zika

• Ebola and zika are two viral diseases caused by the two viruses that belong to the family of Filoviridae.
• Both ebolavirus and Zika viruses are enveloped viruses.
• Moreover, these viruses are RNA viruses that contain a positive-strand RNA genome.
• They infect mammals and birds.
• In addition, they are primarily spread through arthropod vectors.

Difference Between Ebola and Zika

Definition

Ebola refers to a deadly viral disease that causes occasional outbreaks, mostly in the African continent, while zika refers to a mosquito-borne flaviviral disease that causes birth defects.

Symptoms

Ebola causes viral hemorrhagic fever with symptoms like fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headache, while zika causes mild symptoms including fever, headache, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain.

Associate with

Ebola virus disease is associated with a high mortality rate and a very high pregnancy and neonatal loss rate, while zika virus disease is associated with congenital zika syndrome.

Spreading

Ebola spreads through direct contact with blood, while zika spreads through the daytime-active Aedes mosquitoes.

Conclusion

In brief, ebola and zika are two types of viruses that belong to the family Filoviridae. Ebola is a virus that causes a deadly disease, viral hemorrhagic fever. The main symptoms of the disease include fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headache. In addition, the disease spreads through direct contact with body fluids. In contrast, zika is a virus that causes mild symptoms, including fever, headache, vomiting, and muscle and joint pain. zika disease spreads through the bite of the Aedes mosquito. Therefore, the main difference between ebola and zika is the symptoms.          

References:

1. “Ebola: Overview, History, Origins and Transmission.” UK, 
2. “Zika Virus.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2 Nov. 2022.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Ijms-20-04657-g004” By Madiiha Bibi Mandary, Malihe Masomian, and Chit Laa Pooh – Own work (CC BY-4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Viruses-10-00597-g001” By Ginés Ávila-Pérez, Aitor Nogales, Verónica Martín, Fernando Almazán, and Luis Martínez-Sobrido – Own Work (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia