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What is Ebola Virus Disease(EVD)?
Ebola virus disease (EVD) also known
as Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) is
a deadly disease with occasional
outbreaks that occur primarily on the
African continent. EVD most commonly
affects people and nonhuman primates
(such as monkeys, gorillas, and
chimpanzees).
What is Ebola Virus Disease(EVD)?
It is caused by an infection with a group of viruses
within the genus Ebolavirus:
• Ebola virus (species Zaire ebolavirus)
• Sudan virus (species Sudan ebolavirus)
• Taï Forest virus (species Taï Forest ebolavirus,
formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus)
• Bundibugyo virus (species Bundibugyo ebolavirus)
• Reston virus (species Reston ebolavirus)
• Bombali virus (species Bombali ebolavirus)
History of Ebola Virus Disease
Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in
what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Since then, the virus has been infecting people from time to
time, leading to outbreaks in several African countries.
Scientists do not know where Ebola virus comes from.
However, based on the nature of similar viruses, they believe
the virus is animal-borne, with bats or nonhuman primates
with bats or nonhuman primates (chimpanzees, apes,
monkeys, etc.) being the most likely source.
Emergence of Ebola in Humans
• Ebola virus disease (EVD), one of the deadliest viral diseases,
was discovered in 1976 when two consecutive outbreaks of
fatal hemorrhagic fever occurred in different parts of Central
Africa.
• The first outbreak occurred in the Democratic Republic of
Congo (formerly Zaire) in a village near the Ebola River, which
gave the virus its name.
• The second outbreak occurred in what is now South Sudan,
approximately 500 miles (850 km) away.
Causes
• Researchers have now found evidence of Ebola
infection in three species of fruit bat.
• The bats show no symptoms of the disease, indicating
that they may be the main natural reservoirs of the
Ebolavirus.
• It is possible that there are other reservoirs and
vectors.
Transmission
• Scientists think people are initially infected with Ebola virus
through contact with an infected animal, such as a fruit bat
or nonhuman primate. This is called a spillover event. After
that, the virus spreads from person to person, potentially
affecting a large number of people