The virus is named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), where one of the first outbreaks occurred in 1976.
The same year there was another outbreak in Sudan.
Finally, Reston Ebola is named after Reston in the U.S. state of Virginia , where this fifth strain of the Ebola virus was identified in monkeys imported
from the Philippines. The CDC says while humans have been infected with Ebola Reston, there have been no cases of human illness or death from this sub-type.
What are Ebola's symptoms?
Early symptoms include sudden onset of fever, weakness, muscle pain, headaches and a sore throat. These symptoms can appear two to 21 days after infection.
The WHO says these nonspecific early symptoms can be mistaken for signs of diseases such as
malaria, typhoid fever, meningitis or even the plague.
MSF says some patients may also develop a rash, red eyes, hiccups, chest pains and difficulty
breathing and swallowing.
The early symptoms progress to vomiting, diarrhea, impaired kidney and liver function and sometimes internal and external bleeding.
How is it treated?
There are no specific treatments for Ebola. MSF says patients are isolated and then supported by
health care workers. Carers are advised to wear impermeable gowns and gloves and to wear facial protection such as goggles or a medical mask to prevent splashes to the nose, mouth and eyes.
What drugs exist to combat the drug?
Two American missionary workers infected with Ebola were given an experimental drug called
ZMapp which seems to have saved their lives. The drug, developed by a San Diego firm, had never been tried before on humans, but it showed promise
in small experiments on monkeys.
But rolling out an untested drug during a massive outbreak would also be very difficult, according to
MSF. Experimental drugs are typically not mass- produced, and tracking the success of such a drug if used would require extra medical staff where resources are already scarce. ZMapp's maker
says it has very few doses ready for patient use.
How does Ebola virus spread?
The WHO says it is believed that fruit bats may be the natural host of the Ebola virus in Africa, passing on the virus to other animals.
Humans contract Ebola through contact with the bodily fluids of infected animals or the bodily fluids of infected humans.
MSF says that while the virus is believed to be able to survive for some days in liquid outside an
infected organism, chlorine disinfection, heat, direct sunlight, soaps and detergents can kill it.
Latest Update
Paramedics in protective suits move Ebola-infected Spanish missionary Miguel Pajares upon their arrival at Carlos III Hospital in Madrid on Thursday, August 7. Pajares was evacuated from Liberia. Health officials say the current Ebola outbreak in West Africa is the deadliest ever. The World Health Organization reports that the Ebola outbreak in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Nigeria has infected more than 1,700 people and killed more
than 900 this year.
