EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE Ebola first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, in Nzara, Sudan, and in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter was in a village situated near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. KEY FACTS 1.The Ebola virus causes Ebola virus disease (EVD; formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) in humans. 2.EVD outbreaks have a case fatality rate of up to 90%. 3.EVD outbreaks occur primarily in remote villages in Central and West Africa, near tropical rainforests. 4.The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. 5.Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are considered to be the natural host of the Ebola virus. 6.No specific treatment or vaccine is available for use in people or animals. 7.The Ebola virus causes Ebola virus disease (EVD) in humans, with a case fatality rate of up to 90%.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 04:31:38 +0000