Ebola is a term used to describe a terrible disease or infectious condition of an acute viral nature, consisting of a hemorrhagic fever, affecting humans and primates, which includes chimpanzees, monkeys and gorillas. This disease is caused by a virus described by the name Ebola that comes from the Filoviridae family and the Filovirus genus; Its name is due to the river “Ebola”, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, a place whose virus was identified for the first time during an epidemic in 1976 thanks to Dr. David Finkes, when at that time there were several cases of hemorrhagic fever in territories of Zaire and Sudan.
According to studies, the types of Ebola virus can be classified into: Ebola-Zaire, which was one of the first registered, Ebola-Ivory Coast, Ebola-Sudan, Ebola-Bundibugyo and a fifth serotype called Ebola-Reston, a virus that is the causing the disease in primates, but not in humans. The origin of this virus is not known to exact science, that is, it continues to be a mystery but there are certain theories or hypotheses that suppose that fruit bats are the originators of this evil, this according to studies from the Institute for Development Research (IRD).
Ebola virus infection has a high mortality rate, which comprises between 50% and 95% of those affected and due to its lethality it is considered worldwide as a biological weapon. Its symptoms start with a sudden fever, followed by severe weakness, severe headaches, as well as muscle aches, diarrhea, and vomiting; If it is not treated in time, bleeding and skin rashes can occur.
The virus spreads in a human population through direct contact with the blood, organs, or other bodily fluids of those animals that are infected. Generally, the incubation period of the virus ranges from 2 to 21 days, it can only be detected by means of laboratory tests and it should be noted that people affected by this virus are not contagious during the incubation period.
