The Ebola outbreak that has been ravaging West Africa has become a focal point of attention and concern around the world. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ebola outbreak that began in March 2014 represents the highest number of people infected and killed by the disease in its history.
Ebola Virus Disease is a kind of viral homorrhagic fever and an often fatal disease that affects both humans and nonhuman primates. The virus is spread through direct contact with a person's blood or bodily fluids and can be transmitted through contaminated medical tools such as used needles and infected animals. The virus can spread quickly, especially in healthcare settings in which physicians and nurses lack adequate supplies and proper protective equipment.
The following timeline from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention includes major Ebola outbreaks since its discovery in 1976 and was last updated Sept. 17, 2014.
- 1976 — Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reported the first case of Ebola. There were 318 reported human cases that year and 280 deaths (88 percent mortality).
- 1976 — In Sudan: 284 reported cases, 151 deaths (53 percent).
- 1976 — England, 1 reported case, 0 deaths
- 1979 — Sudan: 34 reported cases, 22 deaths (65 percent)
- 1989-1990 — Philippines: 3 (asymptomatic) reported cases, 0 deaths
- 1990 — USA: 4 (asymptomatic) reported cases, 0 deaths
- 1994 — Gabon: 52 reported cases, 31 deaths (60 percent)
- 1995 — DRC: 315 reported cases, 250 deaths (81 percent)
- Jan. to April 1996 — Gabon: 37 reported cases, 21 deaths (57 percent)
- July 1996 to Jan. 1997— Gabon: 60 reported cases, 45 deaths (74 percent)
- 1996 — South Africa: 2 reported cases, 1 death (50 percent)
- 1996 — Russia: 1 reported case, 1 death, (100 percent)
- 2000-2001 — Uganda: 425 reported cases, 224 deaths (53 percent)
- Oct. 2001 to March 2002 — Gabon: 65 reported cases, 53 deaths (82 percent)
- Oct. 2001 to March 2002 — Republic of Congo: 57 reported cases, 43 deaths (75 percent)
- Dec. 2002 to April 2003 — Republic of Congo: 143 reported cases, 128 deaths (89 percent)
- Nov. to Dec. 2003 — Republic of Congo: 35 reported cases, 29 deaths (83 percent)
- 2004 — Sudan: 17 reported cases, 7 deaths (41 percent)
- 2004 — Russia: 1 reported case, 1 death (100 percent)
- 2007 — DRC: 264 reported cases, 187 deaths (71 percent)
- Dec. 2007 to Jan. 2008 — Uganda: 149 reported cases, 37 deaths (25 percent)
- Nov. 2008 — Philippines: 6 (asymptomatic) reported cases, 0 deaths
- Dec. 2008 to Feb. 2009 — DRC: 32 reported cases, 15 deaths (47 percent)
- May 2011 — Uganda: 1 reported case, 1 death (100 percent)
- June-Oct. 2012 — Uganda: 11* cases, 4* deaths (36.4 percent)
- June-Nov. 2012 — DRC: 36* cases, 13* deaths (36.1 percent)
- Nov. 2012 to Jan. 2013 — Uganda: 6* cases, 3* deaths (50 percent)
- March 2014 to present — Multiple countries: 3,017* cases, 1,513* deaths (50 percent)
* Denotes laboratory confirmed cases only.