Africa Stock Photos: This 1976 photograph, taken near Yambuku, Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, showed one of the surveillance teams traveling by jeep to investigate surrounding villages for the possible spread of the Ebola virus.
The 1976 Ebola outbreak started in the town of Yambuku, and from there spread to surrounding areas. In Kinshasa, the nation’s capital, an area hospital was sealed off during the outbreak, helping to bring the situation under control. The total number of cases in Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo, was 318, and had a mortality rate of 88%. The exact origin, locations, and natural habitat (known as the “natural reservoir”) of Ebola virus remain unknown. However, on the basis of available evidence and the nature of similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is zoonotic (animal-borne) and is normally maintained in an animal host that is native to the African continent. A similar host is probably associated with Ebola-Reston which was isolated from infected cynomolgous monkeys that were imported to the United States and Italy from the Philippines. The virus is not known to be native to other continents, such as North America.
Keywords: Africa, Africans, jeep, Jungle road, Zaire, ebola