What Is Ebola?
Ebola is a severe, often-fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976.
The disease is caused by infection with Ebola virus, named after a river in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire) in Africa, where it was first recognized. The virus is one of two members of a family of RNA viruses called the Filoviridae. There are four identified subtypes of Ebola virus. Three of the four have caused disease in humans: Ebola-Zaire, Ebola-Sudan, and Ebola-Ivory Coast. The fourth, Ebola-Reston, has caused disease in nonhuman primates, but not in humans.
- Ebola Resources for Healthcare Professionals
- Training Module Series for ED Personnel (February 26, 2015)
- Interim Guidance for U.S. Hospital Preparedness for Patients with Possible or Confirmed Ebola Virus Disease: A Framework for a Tiered Approach (December 2, 2014)
- Interim Guidance for Preparing Frontline Healthcare Facilities for Patients with Possible Ebola Virus Disease (December 2, 2014)
- Interim Guidance for Preparing Ebola Assessment Hospitals (December 2, 2014)
- Interim Guidance for Preparing Ebola Treatment Centers (December 2, 2014)
- Current Ebola Treatment Centers (December 2, 2014)
- Updated Case Counts (December 2, 2014)
Click to download.
|Factsheet: CDC’s Ebola Response Team||[PDF]|
|Factsheet: Why Ebola is Not Likely to Become Airborne||[PDF]|