Ebola Virus Disease: History, Impact, and Transmission

Ebola Virus Disease

Highly infectious zoonotic viral disease affecting humans and animals.

Zoonotic Disease

Disease transmitted from animals to humans.

Death Rate

EVD outbreaks have death rates of 25% to 90%.

Single-Stranded RNA

Type of genome found in Ebola virus.

First Discovery

Ebola was first discovered in 1976.

Initial Outbreaks

Occurred in Nazara, South Sudan, and DRC.

Recorded Outbreaks

36 outbreaks recorded since 1976.

First Outbreak Scale

Infected fewer than 400 people initially.

Symptom Onset

Symptoms appear 2 to 21 days post-infection.

Average Symptom Onset

Symptoms typically appear 8 to 10 days after infection.

Early Symptoms

Include fever, fatigue, aches, and pains.

Later Symptoms

Headaches, bleeding, abdominal pain, and kidney impairment.

Transmission Origin

Virus originates from fruit bats.

Direct Contact Transmission

Spread through bodily fluids and infected corpses.

Social Behavior Risk

Caring for sick relatives increases infection risk.

Burial Practices Risk

Contact with corpses during burial spreads virus.

Economic Impact

Dense populations in slums facilitate virus transmission.

Healthcare Challenges

25% of DRC population doubted Ebola's existence.

Healthcare System Issues

Lack of funding and insufficient healthcare resources.

Conflict Impact

25 years of conflict weakened the economy.

Role of Women

Women represent two-thirds of those affected.

Geographical Distribution

Most cases occur in West Africa along the equator.

Temporal Distribution

Average of one outbreak every 10 years.

Human Factors

Lack of education led to conspiracy theories.

Urbanization Impact

76% of Sierra Leone lived in slums during 2014 outbreak.

Infrastructure Issues

Insufficient clean water increased vulnerability to infection.

Government Response

USA implemented preventive measures; African governments struggled.

Physical Factors

Climate and geography influence virus exposure.

Gorilla Population Decline

Infected males rejected, hindering reproduction.