The first initial outbreaks of Ebola occurred simultaneously approximately 500 miles apart in parts of Northern Zaire and Southern Sudan in 1976. It was first identified by Dr. Ngoy Mushola and named for the Ebola River. This initial outbreak resulted in 602 documented cases of Ebola with nearly 400 of those proving to be fatal for the infected individuals.
Additional outbreaks were reported in Zaire in 1979 and in regions of Sudan in 1979. Ebola was seen again in Zaire in 1995 and 2003 and reported in Gabon between 1994 and1996 and Uganda in 2000.
There have been 1,500 documented cases of the disease with nearly 1,000 cases resulting in death.
Ebola is a member of a group of viruses known as Filoviridae. There have been four unique types of the virus and three specific strains identified have infected humans, each named for the region in which each was first discovered. They are:
To date these strains have been confined to specific regions of Africa. A fourth variety has been identified in parts of the Untied States, none of the infected developed into full blown Ebola. This variety is known as Ebola Reston.
Ebola can be transmitted form infected animals to humans as well as transmission via bodily fluids and through close contact with infected individuals or needles.
Typically a rash will develop within seven days and this if often associated with hemorrhaging. These symptoms will usually increase and spread throughout the body's mucous membranes. This will result in bleeding from eyes, nose, mouth and rectum. The fever associated with Ebola can be severe. This deadly disease has been identified in a variety of primates.