Zaire virus
Quick Summary
The "Zaire virus" is more accurately referred to as Zaire ebolavirus, a species within the ebolavirus genus. Ebolaviruses are a type of filovirus responsible for Ebola virus disease (EVD), a severe and often fatal hemorrhagic fever. The virus is named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where the first outbreaks occurred in 1976.
EVD is characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, and hemorrhaging. The Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV) is the deadliest species, with a case fatality rate between 50% and 90%. Transmission occurs through contact with infected blood and bodily fluids, and suspected reservoirs include fruit bats. Treatment focuses on supportive care, and specific antibody therapies can reduce mortality for EBOV infections.
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