What is Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976. The disease is caused by infection with Ebola virus, named after a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) in Africa, where it was first recognized. The virus is one of two members of a family of RNA viruses called the Filoviridae. There are four identified subtypes of Ebola virus. Three of the four have caused disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, and Ebola-Ivory Coast. The fourth, Ebola-Reston, has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.
Where is
Ebola virus found in nature?
The exact origin, locations, and natural habitat (known as the "natural
reservoir") of Ebola virus remain unknown. However, 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. A similar host is probably associated with
Ebola-Reston which was isolated from infected cynomolgous monkeys that were
imported to the United States and Italy from the Philippines. The virus is not
known to be native to other continents, such as North America.