Ebola
emerged in 1976 in two simultaneous outbreaks in Sudan and near the Ebola River
in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
There
are several strains which vary in how dangerous they are to humans, but death
rates have reached as high as 90 per cent.
In
the current outbreak it is just over 50 per cent. The virus is introduced into
humans through direct contact with the blood, organs or other bodily fluids of
infected animals including fruit bats, which are eaten as a delicacy.
The
virus then spreads between humans through direct contact with blood, organs or
other bodily fluids of infected people.
Symptoms
include fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache and sore throat followed
by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver function, and in some
cases, both internal and external bleeding.
People
are infectious as long as their blood and bodily fluids contain the virus and
the incubation period can range between two and 21 days.
Although
the disease has no cure, modern medical treatment and quick isolation help
hugely to bring the death toll down.
Source:
World Health Organisation
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