Scanning electron micrograph of Ebola virus budding from the surface of a Vero cell (African green monkey kidney epithelial cell line).
Ebola virus disease, first recognized in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a serious and often fatal illness in humans and nonhuman primates caused by infection with one of five Ebola virus species (four of which can infect humans). The virus is spread through direct contact with the bodily fluids of a sick person and can cause fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and hemorrhage (severe bleeding).
Ebola virus is part of the Filoviridae family, which also includes Marburg virus. Marburg virus disease was first recognized in 1967 and is characterized by the same symptoms and transmission routes as Ebola virus disease. There are two known species of Marburg virus that can cause disease in humans and nonhuman primates.
Why Is the Study of Ebola & Marburg a Priority for NIAID?
Ebola and Marburg viruses are rare but have caused periodic cases and deadly outbreaks in Africa since they were first recognized. The largest outbreak of Ebola virus disease, which occurred in West Africa from 2014 to 2016, caused more than 28,600 infections and more than 11,300 deaths, according to the World Health Organization. There are no licensed treatments or vaccines for Ebola or Marburg virus diseases; however, various experimental countermeasures, including some developed by NIAID, are under preclinical or clinical evaluation.
How Is NIAID Addressing This Critical Topic?
NIAID researchers and NIAID-supported scientists at external institutions are studying many aspects of the Ebola and Marburg viruses and how they cause disease. This includes seeking better ways to diagnose and treat Ebola virus disease and Marburg fevers and using applied research to develop and test vaccines and treatments.
To learn about risk factors for Ebola and Marburg, as well as learn current prevention and treatment strategies visit the MedlinePlus Ebola site or the visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Marburgh hemorrhagic fever site.
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NIAID Research: The Director's Cut, August 27, 2018
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Scientists Find Strong Immune Cell Responses in Ebola Survivors, August 9, 2018
NIAID is supporting the development of multiple Ebola vaccine candidates that are in various stages of development, such as NIAID/GSK Investigational Ebola Vaccine (cAd3-EBOZ), rVSV-ZEBOV Investigational Ebola Vaccine, and more.
NIAID is also supporting the development of improved diagnostics to detect Ebola virus infection, including those that can provide rapid identification and can be deployed at the point of care where Ebola virus outbreaks occur.
NIAID is advancing research on several investigational Ebola treatments in different stages of development such as, ZMapp, an investigational Ebola treatment “cocktail” of three different proteins, and BCX4430, an investigational small molecule drug with broad-spectrum antiviral activity, including against Ebola.
The 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa was the largest in history. As local and international healthcare workers responded to the outbreak, NIAID and the Liberian Ministry of Health established PREVAIL, or the Partnership for Research on Ebola Virus in Liberia.