Ebola

The Ebola virus itself was first discovered in 1976, but it’s one of a group of viruses that cause a similar syndrome known as viral hemorrhagic fevers.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) it is thought that fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family are natural Ebola virus hosts.The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals (such as fruit bats, porcupines and non-human primates) and then spreads in the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.While Ebola virus is mainly found in Central Africa, other viruses that cause viral haemorrhagic fever are distributed more widely – Lassa fever (West Africa), hantavirus (east Asia), Junin (Argentina), Crimean-Congo (mainly Central Asia and eastern Europe). Dengue virus, commonly found across the tropics (particularly Asia), can, on rare occasions, cause a similar syndrome.

There are five strains of Ebola and they vary in terms of how infective and lethal they are. The most significant outbreaks are associated with the Sudan and Zaire strains; the latter is implicated in this outbreak.

https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-ebola-virus-25071

Ebola 2014-2016

Ebola was extremely deadly, killing up to 50 percent of those who got sick. But because it predominantly spread through bodily fluids like sweat and blood during the last stages of the disease, it wasn’t as contagious as Covid-19. As symptoms were so severe, health officials were able to quickly identify those who had been in contact with people who had it and isolate them. According to Johnson Source “You don’t have relatively healthy people with the Ebola virus walking around shedding the virus — going on the bus, going shopping, going to work “https://www.healthline.com/health-news/how-deadly-is-the-coronavirus-compared-to-past-outbreaks#Seasonal-flu

Ebola March 2020

There have been no new cases of Ebola virus disease (EVD) reported in the ongoing outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since 17 February 2020. However, because there is still a risk of re-emergence of EVD, it is critical to maintain surveillance and response operations until and after the end of outbreak declaration – as outlined in the WHO recommended criteria for declaring the end of the EVD outbreak.

Regeneron’s REGN-EB3 and NIH’s mAb114 Show Promise for Ebola Virus Treatment

What is REGN-EB3?

In August 2019, Trial Site news reports that; “REGN-EB3 was invented by Regeneron using its VelociSuite® technologies; the therapy combines three fully-human monoclonal antibodies. REGN-EB3 has received orphan drug designation from both the FDA and the EMA. It is being developed, tested and manufactured as part of an agreement established in 2015 with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). REGN-EB3 is currently under development and its safety and efficacy have not been fully evaluated by any regulatory authority.”