Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%.
Where did Ebola originate?
Ebola virus disease ( EVD ) is a severe disease caused by Ebola virus, a member of the filovirus family, which occurs in humans and other primates. The disease emerged in 1976 in almost simultaneous outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ( DRC ) and Sudan (now South Sudan).
Did Ebola affect Australia?
The 2014 outbreak in West Africa is the largest EVD outbreak reported occurring principally in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. There is no evidence that Ebola virus is present in Australian bats or other animals. There have been no human cases of EVD in Australia.
Is Ebola an epidemic or pandemic?
Ebola has so far only affected African countries and occasional cases outside of the continent have been rapidly contained. But the virus could mutate to spread more easily between people, making it more of a pandemic threat.
Why is Ebola named?
Ebola is named for the river in Africa where the disease was first recognized in 1976. The exact origin and natural host of Ebola virus are unknown. There are four kinds of Ebola virus: Ebola- Ivory Coast, Ebola-Reston, Ebola-Sudan, and Ebola-Zaire.
What was the worst plague in human history?
The Black Death, which hit Europe in 1347, claimed an astonishing 20 million lives in just four years.
How did the Ebola outbreak end?
Engaging local leaders in prevention programs and messaging, along with careful policy implementation at the national and global level, helped to eventually contain the spread of the virus and put an end to this outbreak. Liberia was first declared Ebola-free in May 2015.
What happened to West Africa’s Ebola situation?
On March 29, 2016, the WHO lifted the PHEIC status on West Africa’s Ebola situation. The impact this epidemic had on the world, and particularly West Africa, is significant. A total of 28,616 cases of EVD and 11,310 deaths were reported in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
When did Sierra Leone and Guinea declare Ebola-free?
After an initial declaration in November 2015, Sierra Leone announced a new case of EVD in January 2016 and declared it was Ebola-free on March 17, 2016. In Guinea, the first end of outbreak declaration was in December 2015, but additional cases were discovered in March and April of 2016. Guinea was finally declared Ebola-free in June 2016. [1]
When was the last Ebola case detected in Liberia?
More cases were discovered in November 2015. On January 14, 2016, Liberia again announced it was Ebola-free; however, cases were detected in March and April of 2016, and Liberia made its final declaration on June 1, 2016.
What is the history of Ebola virus disease?
On March 23, 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the forested rural region of southeastern Guinea. The identification of these early cases marked the beginning of the West Africa Ebola epidemic, the largest in history.
