Ebola – a pathogen from our worst nightmares was once just the name of a river in northern Zaire, Africa. How did the name of a river give rise to a virus with such a horrifying connotation? The recent Ebola outbreak occurring in West Africa is on high alert across the world. The Ebola virus is lives in animals such as the fruit bat, but has the tendency to make the jump to humans. When this jump does occur, the virus is deadly and kills the majority of those infected. Because the virus is only transmitted through bodily fluids most of the world does not need to fear coming in contact with this killer pathogen.
The Ebola virus has been pondered upon since its discovery in the late 1970s. Ebola is a virulent filovirus that affects not only primates, but also human primates. Unfortunately, there is …show more content…
Humans encountered the Ebola virus, more specifically the Zaire strain, in 1976. The first outbreak infected over 284 people with a mortality rate of 53% (Carroll 2013). With the help of contaminated needles and infected patients, the virus spread like wild fire in hospitals killing many families along the way. As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared back into hiding. It was only a matter of time until the virus re-surfaced. The Sudan strain emerged in 1979 infecting around 34 people and a mortality rate of 65% (Carroll 2013). The Zaire and Sudan strand share many similarities such as their shape and structure; however, there was a minor difference between the two – the Ebola-Sudan strain proved to be much less fatal. At this point in time, researchers were still unable to identify Ebola’s
The Ebola virus has been pondered upon since its discovery in the late 1970s. Ebola is a virulent filovirus that affects not only primates, but also human primates. Unfortunately, there is …show more content…
Humans encountered the Ebola virus, more specifically the Zaire strain, in 1976. The first outbreak infected over 284 people with a mortality rate of 53% (Carroll 2013). With the help of contaminated needles and infected patients, the virus spread like wild fire in hospitals killing many families along the way. As quickly as it appeared, it disappeared back into hiding. It was only a matter of time until the virus re-surfaced. The Sudan strain emerged in 1979 infecting around 34 people and a mortality rate of 65% (Carroll 2013). The Zaire and Sudan strand share many similarities such as their shape and structure; however, there was a minor difference between the two – the Ebola-Sudan strain proved to be much less fatal. At this point in time, researchers were still unable to identify Ebola’s