Ebola '76

Ebola '76 is the first recorded outbreak of the Ebola virus, a severe and often fatal illness in humans. The outbreak occurred in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.

Overview

The Ebola '76 outbreak was caused by the Zaire ebolavirus species, one of six known species within the genus Ebolavirus. The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The average Ebola virus disease (EVD) case fatality rate is around 50%. In the 1976 outbreak, the fatality rate was 88%, making it one of the deadliest outbreaks in history.

Outbreak

The outbreak began in the small village of Yambuku, located near the Ebola River. The first case was reported on 26 August 1976, and the disease quickly spread through the village, affecting primarily those who had attended funerals of the first victims. The virus was transmitted through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and burial ceremonies in which mourners had direct contact with the body of the deceased person also played a role in transmission.

Symptoms and Treatment

The symptoms of Ebola '76 were similar to those of other Ebola outbreaks, including the sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

There is no proven treatment available for EVD. However, a range of potential treatments including blood products, immune therapies and drug therapies are currently being evaluated. Supportive care-rehydration with oral or intravenous fluids- and treatment of specific symptoms, improves survival.

Prevention and Control

Prevention includes measures to reduce wildlife-to-human transmission and human-to-human transmission. Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Raising awareness of risk factors and protective measures can reduce human exposure to the Ebola virus.

See also

• Ebola virus disease
• Ebolavirus
• Zaire ebolavirus
• Yambuku