Difference between revisions of "Ebola hemorrhagic fever"
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| − | '''Ebola hemorrhagic fever''' is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and [[primate]]s that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976. | + | '''Ebola hemorrhagic fever''' is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and [[primate]]s that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976. Cases of Ebola are reported all over Africa, including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, the Ivory Coast, Uganda, and the Republic of the Congo. Ebola in humans has never been reported in the United States however. |
Revision as of 20:06, July 15, 2009
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and primates that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976. Cases of Ebola are reported all over Africa, including Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Sudan, the Ivory Coast, Uganda, and the Republic of the Congo. Ebola in humans has never been reported in the United States however.
Virus
The disease is caused by infection with Ebola virus, first discovered in Africa. The virus is one of two members of a family of RNA viruses called the Filoviridae. There are five identified subtypes of Ebola virus. Four of the five have caused disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Ivory Coast and Ebola-Bundibugyo. The fifth, Ebola-Reston, has caused disease only in primates.
The viruses natural resovoir is currently unknown, although the majority of scientists belive it is Zoonotic, or animal-borne. Ebola is native to Africa.
Source
- CDC
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