Outbreaks of Ebola virus disease in Africa: the beginnings of a tragic saga

• Published in: Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases
• Main Author: Jean-Philippe Chippaux
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SciELO 2014
• Subjects: Ebola; Outbreak; Virus; Hemorrhagic fever; Africa; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Toxicology. Poisons; RA1190-1270; Zoology; QL1-991; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1678-9199-20-44; https://doaj.org/article/5e03bd4ac60747a89dbd5bca01e44cc0

The tremendous outbreak of Ebola virus disease occurring in West Africa since the end of 2013 surprises by its remoteness from previous epidemics and dramatic extent. This review aims to describe the 27 manifestations of Ebola virus that arose after its discovery in 1976. It provides an update on research on the ecology of Ebola viruses, modes of contamination and human transmission of the disease that are mainly linked to close contact with an infected animal or a patient suffering from the disease. The recommendations to contain the epidemic and challenges to achieve it are reminded.