An Overview of the Ebola Virus
The
Ebola virus is a type of RNA virus that causes the disease known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever (also called Ebola).
How Did the Ebola Virus Get Its Name?
The Ebola virus was first recognized in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire), in Africa, and got its name from a river there.
Subtypes of the Ebola Virus
There are two members of a family of RNA viruses called the Filoviridae, and the Ebola virus is one of them. There are four identified subtypes of the Ebola virus. Three of the four have caused disease in humans:
- Ebola-Ivory Coast
- Ebola-Sudan
- Ebola-Zaire.
The fourth Ebola virus subtype, Ebola-Reston, has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.
Where Does the Ebola Virus Live?
On the basis of available evidence, and the nature of similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is zoonotic (animal-borne) and is normally maintained in an animal host that is native to the African continent; however, the exact locations, origin, and natural habitat (known as the natural reservoir) of the Ebola virus remain unknown.
Ebola research scientists continue to search for the exact animal host.
Ebola-Reston was isolated from infected cynomolgus monkeys that were imported from the Philippines to the United States and Italy, and is probably associated with a similar host. The Ebola virus is not known to be native to other continents, such as North America.
Outbreaks of the Ebola Virus
Ebola outbreaks typically appear sporadically. Confirmed cases of Ebola virus infections have been reported in:
- The Ivory Coast
- Sudan
- Gabon
- Uganda
- The Democratic Republic of the Congo.
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