Top 12 Interesting Facts About Ebola

Ebola, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly viral disease. Humans and nonhuman primates such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees are most commonly affected by Ebola virus disease (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Ebola virus disease

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There are 5 different strains of the Ebola virus:

1. Bundibugyo virus (BDBV)
2. Taï Forest virus (TAFV)
3. Sudan virus (SUDV)
4. Ebola virus (EBOV, also known as Zaire Ebola virus)
5. Reston virus (RESTV)

Except for the Reston virus, all the other four viruses cause Ebola virus disease in humans. Of these four, Ebola virus, which is the cause of current outbreak across the globe, is the most fatal and has become a matter of grave concern (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
What is Ebola Virus Disease?

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Facts About Ebola

1. The natural reservoir of Ebola viral pathogen is unknown. However, the first patient contracts the virus by coming into contact with infected animals such as fruit bats or primates. Thereafter, Ebola transmission happens from person-to-person (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Transmission
   
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2. Transmission of Ebola to a person occurs when one's mouth, nose, eyes, break of skin, wound or abrasion comes in contact with the body fluids of an infected person. Body fluids include blood, feces, sweat, urine, mucus, vomit and breast milk (4^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Ebola Virus
   
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3. There is no evidence that suggests Ebola is an air-borne disease. Hence, it does not spread through coughing or sneezing. However, large droplets of respiratory or other secretions spread infection (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Transmission of ebola virus disease: an overview
   
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4. The incubation period of Ebola varies between 2-21 days. During the incubation period, Ebola is non contagious. However, it becomes contagious when a patient starts showing symptoms (6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   What You Need to Know about Ebola
   
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5. The US Food and Drug Administration approved two monoclonal antibodies (Inmazeb and Ebanga) for the treatment of Zaire ebolavirus (Ebolavirus) infection in adults and children in late 2020 (7^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Ebola virus disease
   
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6. Recovery from Ebola depends on one's immune system and the supportive care given. People who recover from Ebola can develop antibodies in their bodies, that last for a minimum of 10 years, making them immune to Ebola infection for that period of time (8^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Survivors of Ebola
   
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7. There are two approved Ebola vaccines on the market: Ervebo and Zabdeno-Mvabea vaccine. These vaccines are both safe and effective against the Zaire ebolavirus species (9^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Ebola virus disease: Vaccines
   
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8. In the affected areas, Ebola spread can be prevented by practicing hygiene, washing hands with soap or a sanitizer, safe burial of the dead, using personal protective equipment, careful disposal of virus contaminated syringes and needles (7^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Ebola virus disease
   
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9. Use of alcohol-based products, sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite at appropriate concentrations to disinfect surfaces can help in the elimination of the virus (10^✔ ✔Trusted Source
   Chemical Disinfectants
   
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10. Avoidance of Aerosol Generating Procedures (AGPs) for people with Ebola can help in curbing the spread of the infection (11^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in U.S. Hospitals
    
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11. Ebola virus survives in the placenta, amniotic fluid, and fetus of pregnant women infected with the virus. The virus may persist in breast milk in women who were infected with Ebola while breastfeeding (12^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Ebola virus disease and pregnancy - A review of the current knowledge of Ebola virus pathogenesis, maternal and neonatal outcomes
    
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12. The rate of fetal loss is nearly 100% for pregnant women with Ebola virus disease, with or without maternal death (12^✔ ✔Trusted Source
    Ebola virus disease and pregnancy - A review of the current knowledge of Ebola virus pathogenesis, maternal and neonatal outcomes
    
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