Tracking the Ebola outbreak in Congo, Uganda
A rare strain of Ebola has been spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and has now related cases in the nearby country of Uganda. Ebola disease is a serious, often fatal illness caused by an infection with one of several orthoebolaviruses, which are mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa. As of May 26, the DRC Ministry of Health has reported nearly 1,000 suspected cases of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain. Of this number 105 cases and 10 deaths have been confirmed. A total of seven confirmed cases and one confirmed death has been reported in Uganda. Where is the current Ebola outbreak and how many cases have there been?More than 35,000 Ebola cases have been recorded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 1976 when the disease was first identified. The first outbreak took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, various species of ebolavirus have emerged in several African countries.What is Ebola virus?Ebola virus disease spreads through contact with the body fluids of an infected sick or dead person, according to the CDC. This includes blood, urine, saliva, sweat and so on. It does not spread through the air, and so a person cannot get Ebola from simply being near someone. There are six known species of Ebolavirus, only four cause illness in people. The most common and lethal strain is the Zaire ebolavirus.The Zaire ebolavirus is responsible for the largest Ebola epidemic took place in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The West Africa Ebola epidemic recorded 28,610 cases and led to 11, 308 deaths. Where have Ebola outbreaks occurred in the past?It was also considered the most widespread in Ebola outbreak, as it had been passed onto volunteers and travelers from Italy, Spain, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, U.S. and the United Kingdom. No Ebola cases associated with the DRC outbreak have been reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reports one American was exposed as part of work caring for patients in DRC tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo disease on May 17. The patient has been transported to Germany for treatment and care.The last time Ebola cases were diagnosed in the United States was during the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, according to CDC data. Four cases of the Zaire Ebola strain were reported in the U.S. and one confirmed death.
A rare strain of Ebola has been spreading in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and has now related cases in the nearby country of Uganda. Ebola disease is a serious, often fatal illness caused by an infection with one of several orthoebolaviruses, which are mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa.
As of May 26, the DRC Ministry of Health has reported nearly 1,000 suspected cases of the Bundibugyo Ebola strain. Of this number 105 cases and 10 deaths have been confirmed. A total of seven confirmed cases and one confirmed death has been reported in Uganda.
Where is the current Ebola outbreak and how many cases have there been?
More than 35,000 Ebola cases have been recorded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 1976 when the disease was first identified. The first outbreak took place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, various species of ebolavirus have emerged in several African countries.
What is Ebola virus?
Ebola virus disease spreads through contact with the body fluids of an infected sick or dead person, according to the CDC. This includes blood, urine, saliva, sweat and so on. It does not spread through the air, and so a person cannot get Ebola from simply being near someone.
There are six known species of Ebolavirus, only four cause illness in people. The most common and lethal strain is the Zaire ebolavirus.
The Zaire ebolavirus is responsible for the largest Ebola epidemic took place in West Africa, particularly in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The West Africa Ebola epidemic recorded 28,610 cases and led to 11, 308 deaths.
Where have Ebola outbreaks occurred in the past?
It was also considered the most widespread in Ebola outbreak, as it had been passed onto volunteers and travelers from Italy, Spain, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, U.S. and the United Kingdom.
No Ebola cases associated with the DRC outbreak have been reported in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC reports one American was exposed as part of work caring for patients in DRC tested positive for Ebola Bundibugyo disease on May 17. The patient has been transported to Germany for treatment and care.
The last time Ebola cases were diagnosed in the United States was during the West Africa Ebola outbreak in 2014, according to CDC data. Four cases of the Zaire Ebola strain were reported in the U.S. and one confirmed death.
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