What is Ebola ?
Ebola is the term for the viral genus Ebolavirus (EBOV), or for the disease Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF). It is named after the Ebola River, where the first recognized outbreak occurred. There are a number of species within the ebolavirus genus, which in turn have a number of specific strains or serotypes. The Zaire virus is the type species, which is also the first discovered and the most lethal.

What causes Ebola?
Ebola is caused by infection with Ebola virus.

How is Ebola virus spread?
Researchers do not know exactly how Ebola is spread. However, they have strong reason to believe that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal.

The Ebola virus is then spread from human to human by:

* direct contact with the blood and/or secretions of an infected person.
* contact with objects, such as needles, that have been contaminated with infected secretions.

How is Ebola treated?
There is no standard treatment for Ebola. Patients receive supportive therapy. Types of supportive therapy are: balancing the patient’s fluids and electrolytes, maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure, and treating them for any complicating infections.

How is Ebola hemorrhagic fever clinically diagnosed?
Your doctor can perform tests to determine if you have Ebola.

Where is Ebola virus found in nature?
The exact origin, locations, and natural habitat of Ebola virus remain has not been discovered. However, researchers believe that the virus is animal-borne and is normally maintained in an animal host that is native to the African continent.

What is Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is one of the deadliest of a group of diseases called viral hemorrhagic fevers. They range in seriousness from relatively mild illnesses to severe and potentially fatal diseases. All forms of viral hemorrhagic fever begin with fever and muscle aches. Depending on the virus, the disease can get worse until the patient becomes very ill with breathing problems, severe bleeding (hemorrhage), kidney problems, and shock.
Viral hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses from four families: filoviruses, arenaviruses, flaviviruses, and bunyaviruses. The usual hosts for most of these viruses are rodents or arthropods (such as ticks and mosquitoes). In some cases, the natural host for the virus is not known.

What is the infectious agent that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is caused by several Ebola viruses. Ebola viruses are members of the filovirus family; when magnified several thousand times by an electron microscope, these viruses look like threads (filaments). Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 and named for a river in Zaire, Africa, where it was first detected.

Where is Ebola hemorrhagic fever found?
Ebola viruses are found in Central Africa. The source of the viruses in nature remains unknown. Monkeys, like humans, appear to be susceptible to infection and might serve as a source of virus if infected.

What are the signs and symptoms of Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
People infected with Ebola virus have sudden fever, weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, limited kidney and liver functions, and both internal and external bleeding. Death rates range from 50% to 90%.

How soon after exposure do symptoms appear?
Symptoms begin 2 to 21 days after infection.

Who is at risk for Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
• Persons traveling to areas where Ebola hemorrhagic fever is occurring
• Hospital staff and family members who care for patients with Ebola hemorrhagic fever
• Central African residents of rural areas and small towns
 

  Ebola is a virus

  Ebola and HIV Research

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