Ebola historical perspective

Overview
The Ebola virus first came to notice in 1976 in outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Zaire and Sudan. The virus was named after the Ebola river in Zaire. The strain of Ebola which broke out in Zaire has one of the highest case fatality rates of any human pathogenic virus, roughly 90%. The strain which broke out later in Sudan has a mortality of approximately 50%. The third strain of Ebola, which has been coined Ebola Reston, was first acknowledged in 1989. The fourth strain of Ebola, which was discovered in the Tai Forest, Cote d'Ivoire, was discovered in 1994. It was discovered from a necropsy that was performed on a deceased monkey.

The virus is believed to be initially transmitted to a human via contact with an infected animal host. From the first human infected, the virus is then transmitted by human contact with infected blood and bodily fluids of a diseased person, and by human contact with contaminated medical equipment, such as needles. Both of these infectious mechanisms will occur in clinical (nosocomial) and non-clinical situations. Due to the high fatality rate, the rapidity of demise, and the often remote areas where infections occur, the potential for widespread epidemic outbreaks is considered low.