Ebola disease—also called Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola fever—is a rare and often fatal illness that humans and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys and gorillas) can contract. There have been several outbreaks of Ebola fever in Africa. There has never been a reported case of Ebola fever in people in the United States.
The Ebola virus causes Ebola fever. The virus is found in Africa and the Philippines—but, the virus from the Philippines does not cause illness in humans. The virus was named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was first discovered.
The Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 and has appeared in sporadic outbreaks since then. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 2,265 reported cases of Ebola fever in humans around the world since 1976. Of these, 1,531 resulted in death (CDC, 2012).
Part 2 of 9: Types
Ebola disease—also called Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola fever—is a rare and often fatal illness that humans and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys and gorillas) can contract. There have been several outbreaks of Ebola fever in Africa. There has never been a reported case of Ebola fever in people in the United States.
The Ebola virus causes Ebola fever. The virus is found in Africa and the Philippines—but, the virus from the Philippines does not cause illness in humans. The virus was named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where it was first discovered.
The Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 and has appeared in sporadic outbreaks since then. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 2,265 reported cases of Ebola fever in humans around the world since 1976. Of these, 1,531 resulted in death (CDC, 2012).
Types of Ebola Virus
There are five subtypes of Ebola virus:
- Ebola-Zaire
- Ebola-Sudan
- Ebola-Ivory Coast
- Ebola-Bundibugyo
- Ebola-Reston
All of these subtypes are found in Africa, except for Ebola-Reston, which is found in the Philippines. The Ebola-Reston virus is also the only subtype that will not cause illness in humans—it only affects animals.
Part 3 of 9: Causes
There are five subtypes of Ebola virus:
- Ebola-Zaire
- Ebola-Sudan
- Ebola-Ivory Coast
- Ebola-Bundibugyo
- Ebola-Reston
All of these subtypes are found in Africa, except for Ebola-Reston, which is found in the Philippines. The Ebola-Reston virus is also the only subtype that will not cause illness in humans—it only affects animals.
How Do You Contract the Ebola Virus?
You can get the Ebola virus through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected animal or human. These include blood, saliva, semen, vomit, urine, or feces.
According to the World Health Organization, you can also get the virus by handling a sick or dead wild animal that has been infected with it (WHO, 2007).
There is some evidence that the Ebola virus can be spread through the air from nonhuman primate to nonhuman primate, such as monkey-to-monkey, in research facilities. No definitive studies have proven this, however.
Part 4 of 9: Symptoms
What Are the Symptoms of Ebola Fever?
If you are exposed to the any of the African forms of the Ebola virus, you will begin to display symptoms anywhere from two to 21 days following that exposure. The onset of the illness is rapid. The initial symptoms resemble those of a common flu infection and include:
- fever
- headache
- sore throat
- joint and muscle soreness
- weakness
As Ebola fever progresses, the symptoms become more severe. Late-stage symptoms of Ebola virus may include:
Part 5 of 9: Diagnosis
How Is Ebola Fever Diagnosed?
Ebola fever is diagnosed using blood tests to detect the Ebola virus in your blood. Your doctor may test you for the Ebola virus if you have symptoms of Ebola fever and have recently been in an area where the virus is found.
Part 6 of 9: Treatments
How Is Ebola Fever Treated?
There is no cure for Ebola fever. The only available treatments are those meant to help to ease your symptoms. These may include:
- oxygen therapy
- intravenous fluids
- blood transfusions
- medications to treat shock
- pain medications
Part 7 of 9: Getting Help
When to Call a Doctor
Call your doctor right away if you develop symptoms of Ebola fever and have recently traveled to Africa or been exposed to the Ebola virus. The earlier you receive treatment, the better your chances will be for survival.
Part 8 of 9: Outlook
Outlook: The Chances of Survival with Ebola Fever
The National Institutes of Health estimate that Ebola fever is fatal in as many as 90 percent of all infected patients (NIH, 2011). The virus infects the liver, destroys the lining of blood vessels, and causes blood clotting problems and loss of blood. Death is usually due to hypovolemic shock because of loss of blood. It is not known why some people survive Ebola fever while others do not.
Part 9 of 9: Prevention
How Can Ebola Fever Be Prevented?
You can lower your risk of becoming infected with the Ebola virus by avoiding locations where it is found, especially during times when there is an outbreak of Ebola fever.
If you travel to Africa, avoid handling live or dead wild animals. Some species of animals besides primates may carry the Ebola virus. The African subtypes of the virus have also been found in forest antelope and fruit bats. Also, always be sure to wear special protective clothing (gown, gloves, full face mask and eye goggles) if you are around a person with Ebola fever.
Chronology of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreaks
| Year(s) | Country | Ebola subtype | Reported number of human cases | Reported number (%) of deaths among cases | Situation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo - DRC) | Ebola virus | 318 | 280 (88%) | Occurred in Yambuku and surrounding area. Disease was spread by close personal contact and by use of contaminated needles and syringes in hospitals/clinics. This outbreak was the first recognition of the disease. 1 |
| 1976 | Sudan (South Sudan) | Sudan virus | 284 | 151 (53%) | Occurred in Nzara, Maridi and the surrounding area. Disease was spread mainly through close personal contact within hospitals. Many medical care personnel were infected. 2 |
| 1976 | England | Sudan virus | 1 | 0 | Laboratory infection by accidental stick of contaminated needle. 3 |
| 1977 | Zaire | Ebola virus | 1 | 1 (100%) | Noted retrospectively in the village of Tandala. 4 |
| 1979 | Sudan (South Sudan) | Sudan virus | 34 | 22 (65%) | Occured in Nzara, Maridi. Recurrent outbreak at the same site as the 1976 Sudan epidemic. 5 |
| 1989 | USA | Reston virus | 0 | 0 | Ebola-Reston virus was introduced into quarantine facilities in Virginia and Pennsylvania by monkeys imported from the Philippines. 6 |
| 1990 | USA | Reston virus | 4 (asymptomatic) | 0 | Ebola-Reston virus was introduced once again into quarantine facilities in Virginia, and Texas by monkeys imported from the Philippines. Four humans developed antibodies but did not get sick. 7 |
| 1989-1990 | Philippines | Reston virus | 3 (asymptomatic) | 0 | High mortality among cynomolgus macaques in a primate facility responsible for exporting animals in the USA. 8 Three workers in the animal facility developed antibodies but did not get sick. 9 |
| 1992 | Italy | Reston virus | 0 | 0 | Ebola-Reston virus was introduced into quarantine facilities in Sienna by monkeys imported from the same export facility in the Philippines that was involved in the episodes in the United States. No humans were infected. 10 |
| 1994 | Gabon | Ebola virus | 52 | 31 (60%) | Occured in Mékouka and other gold-mining camps deep in the rain forest. Initially thought to be yellow fever; identified as Ebola hemorrhagic fever in 1995. 11 |
| 1994 | Ivory Coast | Taï Forest virus | 1 | 0 | Scientist became ill after conducting an autopsy on a wild chimpanzee in the Tai Forest. The patient was treated in Switzerland. 12 |
| 1995 | Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) | Ebola virus | 315 | 250 (81%) | Occured in Kikwit and surrounding area. Traced to index case-patient who worked in forest adjoining the city. Epidemic spread through families and hospitals. 13 |
| 1996 (January-April) | Gabon | Ebola virus | 37 | 21 (57%) | Occured in Mayibout area. A chimpanzee found dead in the forest was eaten by people hunting for food. Nineteen people who were involved in the butchery of the animal became ill; other cases occured in family members. 11 |
| 1996-1997 (July-January) | Gabon | Ebola virus | 60 | 45 (74%) | Occurred in Booué area with transport of patients to Libreville. Index case-patient was a hunter who lived in a forest camp. Disease was spread by close contact with infected persons. A dead chimpanzee found in the forest at the time was determined to be infected. 11 |
| 1996 | South Africa | Ebola virus | 2 | 1 (50%) | A medical professional traveled from Gabon to Johannesburg, South Africa, after having treated Ebola virus-infected patients and thus having been exposed to the virus. He was hospitalized, and a nurse who took care of him became infected and died. 14 |
| 1996 | USA | Reston virus | 0 | 0 | Ebola-Reston virus was introduced into a quarantine facility in Texas by monkeys imported from the Philippines. No human infections were identified. 15 |
| 1996 | Philippines | Reston virus | 0 | 0 | Ebola-Reston virus was identified in a mokey export facility in the Philippines. No human infections were identified. 16 |
| 1996 | Russia | Ebola virus | 1 | 1 (100%) | Laboratory contamination 17 |
| 2000-2001 | Uganda | Sudan virus | 425 | 224 (53%) | Occurred in Gulu, Masindi, and Mbarara districts of Uganda. The three most important risks associated with Ebola virus infection were attending funerals of Ebola hemorrhagic fever case-patients, having contact with case-patients in one's family, and providing medical care to Ebola case-patients without using adequate personal protective measures. 18 |
| October 2001-March 2002 | Gabon | Ebola virus | 65 | 53 (82%) | Outbreak occured over the border of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. 19 |
| October 2001-March 2002 | Republic of Congo | Ebola virus | 57 | 43 (75%) | Outbreak occurred over the border of Gabon and the Republic of the Congo. This was the first time that Ebola hemorrhagic fever was reported in the Republic of the Congo.19 |
| December 2002-April 2003 | Republic of Congo | Ebola virus | 143 | 128 (89%) | Outbreak occurred in the districts of Mbomo and Kéllé in Cuvette Ouest Département.20 |
| November-December 2003 | Republic of Congo | Ebola virus | 35 | 29 (83%) | Outbreak occured in Mbomo and Mbandza villages located in Mbomo distric, Cuvette Ouest Département. 21 |
| 2004 | Sudan (South Sudan) | Sudan virus | 17 | 7 (41%) | Outbreak occurred in Yambio county of southern Sudan. This outbreak was concurrent with an outbreak of measles in the same area, and several suspected EHF cases were later reclassified as measeles cases. 22 |
| 2004 | Russia | Ebola virus | 1 | 1 (100%) | Laboratory contamination. 23 |
| 2007 | Democratic Republic of Congo | Ebola virus | 264 | 187 (71%) | Outbreak occurred in Kasai Occidental Province. The outbreak was declared over November 20. Last confirmed case on October 4 and last death on October 10. 24 25 |
| December 2007-January 2008 | Uganda | Bundibugyo virus | 149 | 37 (25%) | Outbreak occurred in Bundibugyo District in western Uganda. First reported occurance of a new strain. 26 |
| November 2008 | Philippines | Reston virus | 6 (asymptomatic) | 0 | First known occurrence of Ebola-Reston in pigs. Strain closely similar to earlier strains. Six workers from the pig farm and slaughterhouse developed antibodies but did not become sick. 27 28 |
| December 2008-February 2009 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Ebola virus | 32 | 15 (47%) | Outbreak occurred in the Mweka and luebo health zones of the Province of Kasai Occidental. 29 |
| May 2011 | Uganda | Sudan virus | 1 | 1 (100%) | The Ugandan Ministry of Health informed the public that a patient with suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic fever died on May 6, 2011 in the Luwero district, Uganda. The quick diagnosis from a blood sample of Ebola virus was provided by the new CDC Viral Hemorrhagic Fever laboratory installed at the Uganda Viral Research Institute (UVRI).30 |
| June-October 2012 | Uganda | Sudan virus | 11* | 4* (36.4%) | Outbreak occurred in the Kibaale District of Uganda. Laboratory tests of blood samples were conducted by the UVRI and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 31 |
| June-November 2012 | Democratic Republic of the Congo | Bundibugyo virus | 36* | 13* (36.1%) | Outbreak occurred in DRC’s Province Orientale. Laboratory support was provided through CDC and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)’s field laboratory in Isiro, and through the CDC/UVRI lab in Uganda. The outbreak in DRC has no epidemiologic link to the near contemporaneous Ebola outbreak in the Kibaale district of Uganda. 31 |
| November 2012-January 2013 | Uganda | Sudan virus | 6* | 3* (50%) | Outbreak occurred in the Luwero District. CDC assisted the Ministry of Health in the epidemiologic and diagnostic aspects of the outbreak. Testing of samples by CDC's Viral Special Pathogens Branch occurred at UVRI in Entebbe. 31 |
| March 2014-Present | Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone | Ebola virus | 786* | ? | Ongoing outbreak across Guinea, northern Liberia, and now eastern Sierra Leone. Numbers of patients is constantly evolving due to the on-going investigation. 32 |
*Numbers reflect laboratory confirmed cases only.
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