History of the disease. Ebola virus disease ( EVD ) is a severe disease caused by Ebola virus, a member of the filovirus family, which occurs in humans and other primates. The disease emerged in
1976
in almost simultaneous outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ) and Sudan (now South Sudan).
When was the first case of Ebola?
The Republic of Ivory Coast, located on the south coast of West Africa, confirmed the country’s first case of Ebola since
1994
, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The infected patient had traveled by road from Guinea, arriving in the country’s largest city, Abidjan, on August 12.
How long did Ebola outbreak last?
In Guinea, the first end of outbreak declaration was in December 2015, but additional cases were discovered in March and April of 2016. Guinea was finally declared Ebola-free in June 2016. [1]
Two and a half years
after the first case was discovered, the outbreak ended with more than 28,600 cases and 11,325 deaths.
What animal started Ebola?
African fruit bats
are likely involved in the spread of Ebola virus and may even be the source animal (reservoir host). Scientists continue to search for conclusive evidence of the bat’s role in transmission of Ebola.
Is Ebola considered a pandemic?
Ebola has so far only affected African countries and occasional cases outside of the continent have been rapidly contained. But the virus could mutate to spread more easily between people, making it
more of a pandemic threat
.
Is there a cure for Ebola 2020?
There’s no cure for Ebola
, though researchers are working on it. There are two drug treatments which have been approved for treating Ebola. Inmazeb is a mixture of three monoclonal antibodies (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab-ebgn).
How did Ebola start?
The first human case in an Ebola outbreak is
acquired through contact with blood, secretions organs or other bodily fluids of an infected animal
. EVD has been documented in people who handled infected chimpanzees, gorillas, and forest antelopes, both dead and alive, in Cote d’Ivoire, the Republic of Congo and Gabon.
Who is most affected by Ebola?
People most at risk are those
who care for infected people
, such as aid workers, or those who handle their blood or body fluid, such as hospital workers, laboratory workers and family members. For the latest on Ebola in Africa see the World Health Organization’s information on the Ebola virus.
Who was the first person to get Ebola?
On October 8, 2014,
Thomas Eric Duncan
, the first person diagnosed with a case of the Ebola Virus Disease in the U.S., dies at age 42 at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.
Why is Ebola called Ebola?
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe disease that is caused by a virus. Ebola is
named for the river in Africa
where the disease was first recognized in 1976.
How did Ebola jump to humans?
Although it is not entirely clear how Ebola initially spreads from animals to humans, the spread is believed to involve
direct contact with an infected wild animal or fruit bat
.
What is the next pandemic?
The perpetrators of the next pandemic will likely come from the
coronavirus or influenza families
. Other possible culprits include flaviviruses such as the West Nile virus, filoviruses such as the Ebola virus, and alphaviruses known to associate with a number of human encephalitis diseases.
What was the first known pandemic in history?
430 B.C.: Athens. The earliest recorded pandemic happened during
the Peloponnesian War
. After the disease passed through Libya, Ethiopia and Egypt, it crossed the Athenian walls as the Spartans laid siege. As much as two-thirds of the population died.
How likely is a pandemic?
It found the probability of a pandemic with similar impact to COVID-19 is
about 2% in any year
, meaning that someone born in the year 2000 would have about a 38% chance of experiencing one by now.
Is there a vaccine against Ebola?
Recent research advances have produced some effective tools against EVD. These include two vaccines against Ebola virus that have recently received regulatory approval: rVSV-ZEBOV, a single-dose vaccine, made by Merck; and the two-dose Ad26.
ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo
, made by Janssen Vaccines and Prevention
5
.
Is Ebola preventable?
Ebola is a rare but serious illness caused by a virus.
You can prevent Ebola by staying away from areas where there are active outbreaks
and by avoiding contact with people who have it. If you suspect exposure to Ebola or have symptoms, seek care immediately.
