In what was described as a war zone where the epidemic occurred, the world health organizations realized they had a virus of catastrophic proportions on their hands that could strike at any time. After that the Marburg virus was called the Ebola Virus after a river that was near both breakouts. What is also important to remember is that this was in 1976 and since then there have been other cases, but none as close as what could be the epidemic brewing in Uganda. As of December 11, the Associated Press news agency reported that the outbreak of the Ebola virus is still claiming lives in Uganda, Africa. They said that the death toll was up to 160 people since being reported in October 14, 2000. What they also said is that over 4,000 people are quarantined now, because they are believed to have been exposed to infected person's.
Now in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary the Ebola Virus is defined as follows,.
Ebola Virus: an RNA virus (genus Filovirus of the family Filoviridae) of African origin that causes an often fatal hemorrhagic fever.
To add more description, the Ebola Virus is described as a group of exotic viral agents that cause a severe hemorrhagic fever disease in humans and other primates. Hemorrhagic Fever is common name for a group of acute viral diseases, the symptoms of which usually begin with fever and muscle aches and progress to dizziness, collapse, swelling, and shock. Depending upon the particular virus, hemorrhagic fevers may progressively produce respiratory problems, internal bleeding, kidney problems, and death. In all there are four known subtypes or species of Ebola viruses which are named Zaire, Sudan, Reston, and Ivory Coast Ebola, which are named after the geographic locations where these viruses were first determined to cause outbreaks of disease. After much research, the viruses are closely related, but distinct from, Marburg Viruses. Collectively, these agents make up a family of viruses known as Filoviridae.
