• Democratic Republic of Congo declared a new Ebola epidemic in the western city of Mbandaka.

What is Ebola Virus Disease?

• Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe, often fatal illness in humans.
• The Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. EVD first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks.
• The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.
• Ebola virus is a member of the Filoviridae family or filoviruses.

• The virus family Filoviridae includes three genera: Cuevavirus, Marburgvirus, and Ebolavirus. Within the genus Ebolavirus, six species have been identified: Zaire, Bundibugyo, Sudan, Taï Forest, Reston and Bombali. 

• The Ebola virus targets the host’s (infected person's) blood and immune system, which can lead to bleeding and a weakened immune system
• The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.