Ebola Virus Disease: Overview, Outbreaks, and Impacts

Ebola Virus Disease

Severe illness caused by orthoebolaviruses.

Orthoebolaviruses

Group of viruses causing Ebola disease.

Mortality Rate

Ebola can reach 80-90% mortality.

FDA-approved Vaccine

Prevents Ebola virus species Zaire.

Filoviridae Family

Family of viruses including orthoebolaviruses.

1976 Discovery

Orthoebolaviruses discovered in Democratic Republic of Congo.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Primary region for orthoebolavirus outbreaks.

EVD Symptoms

Include fatigue, fever, and internal bleeding.

Dry Phase Symptoms

Fatigue, fever, aches, and pains.

Wet Phase Symptoms

Diarrhea and vomiting.

Severe Symptoms

Skin rash, hiccups, and red eyes.

Diagnosis Difficulty

Symptoms resemble influenza, typhoid, and malaria.

Current Outbreaks

Active cases reported in Uganda and Tanzania.

Sudan Virus Disease

Caused by orthoebolavirus sudanense.

Tai Forest Virus Disease

Caused by orthoebolavirus talense.

Bundibugyo Virus Disease

Caused by orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense.

Reston Virus

Harmless to humans, affects nonhuman primates.

Bombali Virus

Identified in bats, unknown effects on humans.

Contact Tracing

Public health response to track virus spread.

Outbreak Duration

Tanzania outbreak lasted from January to March 2025.

Symptoms Onset

Symptoms appear 2 to 21 days post-infection.

Rwanda Outbreak

Declared on 27 September 2024.

EVD

Ebola Virus Disease, a severe infectious disease.

Rwanda Outbreak

First EVD outbreak in Rwanda, 66 cases reported.

Equatorial Guinea Outbreak

First EVD outbreak in Equatorial Guinea, declared February 2023.

Kigali

Capital of Rwanda, most cases reported here.

EVD Cases in Rwanda

66 confirmed cases with 15 deaths reported.

EVD Cases in Equatorial Guinea

17 confirmed cases including 12 deaths reported.

Spatial Distribution

Ebola outbreaks concentrated in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Animal Reservoirs

Ebola virus exists in fruit bats and primates.

Human Transmission Areas

Ebola spreads in rural and urban areas.

International Spread

Ebola cases reported outside Africa due to travel.

2014-2016 Outbreak

Largest outbreak with over 28,000 cases reported.

Temporal Distribution

Ebola outbreaks occur sporadically, irregular intervals.

Healthcare Infrastructure

Weaker systems correlate with higher outbreak frequency.

Ebola Vaccines

Introduced to control outbreaks and reduce spread.

Hydrological Changes

Impact forest fruit production affecting animal foraging.

Accessibility Issues

Increased rainfall can hinder access to healthcare.

Urban Outbreaks

Ebola spread to cities complicates control efforts.

Ebola Virus Origin

Believed to originate from bats in tropical forests.

Confirmed Cases

Cases verified through laboratory testing for EVD.

Probable Cases

Cases suspected but not confirmed by laboratory.

EVD Symptoms

Include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and bleeding.

Containment Efforts

Strategies to control and prevent Ebola spread.

Frugivorous Species

Fruit-eating animals that can spread Ebola.

Rural Locations

Natural habitats of the Fruit Bat species.

Bushmeat

Fruit Bat hunted for food, linked to virus origin.

Social Behaviour

Caring for infected family increases disease spread.

Economic Areas

Better infrastructure and population migration enhance resilience.

Health System Vulnerability

Weak systems worsen disease impact after conflicts.

West Africa

Epicentres of rapid virus transmission in urban settings.

LDCS Education

Lower hazard awareness due to limited educational resources.

MDCS Education

Higher public awareness and access to safety information.

Poverty in LDCS

Poor housing increases vulnerability to hazards.

Poverty in MDCS

Higher income enables better housing and emergency access.

Rapid Urbanisation in LDCS

Unregulated growth in high-risk areas increases vulnerability.

Urban Planning in MDCS

Controlled development reduces risk from hazards.

Government Response in LDCS

Weaker institutions hinder disaster preparedness and response.

Government Response in MDCS

Stronger governance enables effective emergency resource deployment.

Climate in LDCS

Tropical regions face extreme weather and low resilience.

Climate in MDCS

Better infrastructure supports coping with extreme weather.

Geographical Location in LDCS

Often in hazard-prone zones due to poor planning.

Geographical Location in MDCS

Infrastructure reduces risk despite hazard-prone locations.

Ebola Magnitude

Case fatality rates range from 25% to 90%.

Ebola Outbreak Cases

2018-2020 outbreak had over 3,400 cases reported.

Ebola Duration

Outbreaks can last from months to over a year.

Post-Outbreak Surveillance

Lingering transmission chains prolong disruptions after outbreaks.

Ebola Outbreaks

Over a dozen since 1976 in DRC.

Endemic Disease

Occurs every 2-5 years in specific regions.

Regional Instability

Increases frequency of Ebola outbreaks.

Zoonotic Reservoirs

Bats and primates harbor Ebola virus.

Human-Wildlife Interaction

Increased contact raises outbreak probability.

Fragile Healthcare Infrastructure

Limits effective response to Ebola outbreaks.

High-Risk Country

WHO designates DRC for recurrent Ebola risk.

Localized Impact

Outbreaks primarily affect eastern and northern provinces.

Population Mobility

Facilitates regional spread of Ebola.

Porous Borders

Borders with Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan increase risk.

Urban Outbreaks

Cities like Goma heighten spread potential.

Conflict Impact

Political unrest restricts healthcare access and response.

North Kivu

Epicenter of the 2018 Ebola outbreak.

Trade and Travel Hub

Dense population increases outbreak vulnerability.

Healthcare Worker Security

Threats hinder Ebola containment efforts.

Contact Tracing Difficulty

Conflict complicates tracking Ebola exposure.

MSF Facility Attacks

Destruction of treatment centers worsens outbreak response.

Measles Epidemic

Ongoing alongside Ebola, complicating healthcare.

Disease Overlap

Symptoms of diseases like measles mimic Ebola.

Healthcare System Strain

Overcrowding limits effective Ebola identification.

Physician Shortage

Only 0.1 physicians per 1,000 people in DRC.

COVID-19 Impact

Over 54,000 cases worsened Ebola situation.

Transmission Rates

Increased spread of diseases among populations.

Bodily Fluids

Fluids from infected individuals that transmit viruses.

Epicentre

Central point of an outbreak, e.g., Beni, DRC.

Women in Households

Primary caregivers, increasing transmission risk.

Chief Mourners

Women responsible for burial preparations, risking exposure.

Breastmilk Transmission

Infected mothers can pass Ebola through milk.

Traditional Practitioners

Healers who often lack protective measures against Ebola.

Burial Practices

Cultural customs that can lead to virus transmission.

Historical Distrust

Skepticism towards outsiders affecting health interventions.

Social Exclusion

Stigmatization of survivors leads to community isolation.

Orphaned Children

Over 2100 children left without parents due to Ebola.