Where Did Ebola Start?

The Ebola virus has claimed almost 5,700 lives as of November 23^rd, but where did it all start?

Emile Ouamouno, a young boy from the Meliandou village in Southern Guinea, has been identified as Patient Zero. On December 4^th 2013 Emile’s symptoms began - high fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Sadly, four days later Emile died.  

From here the virus spread, first to members of Emile’s family and then to neighbouring countries. In less than 12 months the disease had travelled as far as the United States and Europe, infecting more than 13,200 individuals on route. There have been reported cases in Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain and the United States, making it the worst outbreak of its kind in modern times.

How did Emile get sick?

How Emile contracted the virus is not known, though scientists believe he may have been infected by an animal.

It is a proven fact that Ebola can be spread from animals to humans through contact with infected tissue or fluids. Chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines are all known carriers of the disease.

Experts suggest that bats are the most likely cause of the recent outbreak, because bat soup is a delicacy in Guinea. As a precautionary measure, the consumption and sale of bats was banned in Guinea back in March. Researchers are in the region testing bats for the disease, but whether or not these creatures are to blame for the recent outbreak remains to be seen.

How did the disease spread?

Since discovering Patient Zero, researchers have been able to create a remarkably detailed timeline of the outbreak.

It began with Emile in Guinea on December 4^th and spread to his mother, sister and grandmother soon after. His grandmother was treated at a hospital 80 kilometres from the village but passed away on January 1st. The doctor who treated her contracted the disease and passed it on to his brothers some 133 kilometres away. Many people became infected by the virus at the funerals of these first cases. They then spread the disease to relatives in other villages and so it goes on. As of November 4th 2014, there have been 1760 reported cases of the disease (and 1054 deaths) in Guinea alone.

In Sierra Leone the first case was of a traditional healer, who was, in fact, treating Ebola patients across the border in Guinea. 14 people became infected at her funeral as they prepared the body for burial.

Although the disease may have originated from animals, it is now spread by humans. Pardis Sabeti, one of the leading researchers tracing the timeline, said, “All the sequences are very similar, suggesting it came from a common source.”  

What Next?

On the 20th October 2014 the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Nigeria disease free. If you are not familiar with WHO, read this story for more info: Who is WHO? And How Are They Fighting Ebola?