Back to Top Skip to main content

Health.mil: the official website of the Military Health System (MHS) and the Defense Health Agency (DHA)

Utility Navigation Links

Social Media Links

Ebola

Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees).

Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae, genusEbolavirus. There are five identified Ebolavirus species, four of which have caused disease in humans: Zaire ebolavirus; Sudan ebolavirus; Taï Forest ebolavirus, formerly Côte d’Ivoire ebolavirus; and Bundibugyo ebolavirus. The fifth, Reston ebolavirus, has caused disease in nonhuman primates but not in humans.

Ebola is found in several African countries. The first Ebola species was discovered in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically in Africa.

The natural reservoir host of Ebola remains unknown. However, on the basis of available evidence and the nature of similar viruses, researchers believe that the virus is animal-borne with bats being the most likely reservoir. Four of the five subtypes occur in an animal host native to Africa.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to learn more about Ebola:

You also may be interested in...

Showing results 16 - 22 Page 2 of 2

DoD Releases Breakdown of Ebola Response Effort

Article
1/8/2015
Graphic image of ebola virus with text that says "Liberia"

The Defense Department today released a breakdown of the numbers of DoD personnel involved in the battle to stop the spread of Ebola

Recommended Content:

Ebola

Medical laboratory leads task force in Liberia

Article
1/8/2015
Task Force Scientist is operating six Ebola testing laboratories in Liberia.

The 1st Area Medical Laboratory is leading a joint task force that is operating six Ebola testing laboratories in Liberia

Recommended Content:

Ebola

Ebola workshop highlights collaborations to develop and test vaccines

Article
1/5/2015
microscopic view of the ebola virus

Experts from DoD and HHS sponsored an Ebola vaccine workshop

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola

Face of Defense: Food Inspector Keeps Troops Safe in Liberia

Article
12/30/2014
Army Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky recognizes Army Spc. Rysper Sirma for her exemplary performance while supporting Operation United Assistance at the Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 26, 2014. As a food inspection specialist, Sirma ensures the food and water her fellow service members consume are safe. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. V. Michelle Woods

Army Spc. Rysper Sirma is used to having to report to work on short notice. As a food inspection specialist, she’s on call around the clock in Liberia to keep her fellow Operation United Assistance service members safe, because food inspection requires strict time and safety parameters.

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola, Operation United Assistance

JFC-UA transitions critical health care worker training to partners

Article
12/29/2014
Trainers from the Department of Defense Ebola Treatment Training Team put health care workers through their final practical exam in a mock Ebola treatment unit at the National Police Training Academy, Paynesville, Liberia, Dec. 23, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Hoskins, Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Public Affairs/RELEASED)

The Department of Defense Ebola Treatment Training Team, the joint-service team tasked by the DoD to train health care workers to staff Ebola treatment units, is scheduled to transition its critical mission for the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance, Jan. 1, 2015.

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola, Operation United Assistance

Paving the way to end Ebola

Article
12/18/2014
Spc. Daniel Martin from Lakefield, Minn., left, watches as Pfc. Melina Knight works on grading the road outside the Ebola Treatment Unit near Buchanan, Liberia, Dec. 16, 2014. Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Eric Hudson, Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Public Affairs/RELEASED)

Members of the 615th Engineer Company, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade are making sure the road to the Ebola treatment unit near Buchanan, Liberia is functional

Recommended Content:

Ebola, Pandemic Diseases, Operation United Assistance

Damage control: providing essential medical support to JFC-UA

Article
12/17/2014
Capt. Melanie Bowman, a Camden, Tenn., native and officer in charge for the 86th Damage Control Resuscitation Team, 86th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky., prepares medical supplies at the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Field Hospital, Dec. 16, 2014. The field hospital has the equipment and personnel to address any immediate medical emergency in theater. Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dani Salvatore, 27th Public Affairs Detachment/RELEASED)

The 86th Damage Control Resuscitation Team is a one-of-a-kind medical team operating in the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Field Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, capable of facilitating life-saving interventions and surgeries to personnel, specifically designed for missions like Operation United Assistance.

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola, Operation United Assistance

DoD Releases Breakdown of Ebola Response Effort

Article
1/8/2015
Graphic image of ebola virus with text that says "Liberia"

The Defense Department today released a breakdown of the numbers of DoD personnel involved in the battle to stop the spread of Ebola

Recommended Content:

Ebola

Medical laboratory leads task force in Liberia

Article
1/8/2015
Task Force Scientist is operating six Ebola testing laboratories in Liberia.

The 1st Area Medical Laboratory is leading a joint task force that is operating six Ebola testing laboratories in Liberia

Recommended Content:

Ebola

Ebola workshop highlights collaborations to develop and test vaccines

Article
1/5/2015
microscopic view of the ebola virus

Experts from DoD and HHS sponsored an Ebola vaccine workshop

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola

Face of Defense: Food Inspector Keeps Troops Safe in Liberia

Article
12/30/2014
Army Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky recognizes Army Spc. Rysper Sirma for her exemplary performance while supporting Operation United Assistance at the Barclay Training Center, Monrovia, Liberia, Dec. 26, 2014. As a food inspection specialist, Sirma ensures the food and water her fellow service members consume are safe. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. V. Michelle Woods

Army Spc. Rysper Sirma is used to having to report to work on short notice. As a food inspection specialist, she’s on call around the clock in Liberia to keep her fellow Operation United Assistance service members safe, because food inspection requires strict time and safety parameters.

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola, Operation United Assistance

JFC-UA transitions critical health care worker training to partners

Article
12/29/2014
Trainers from the Department of Defense Ebola Treatment Training Team put health care workers through their final practical exam in a mock Ebola treatment unit at the National Police Training Academy, Paynesville, Liberia, Dec. 23, 2014. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nathan Hoskins, Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Public Affairs/RELEASED)

The Department of Defense Ebola Treatment Training Team, the joint-service team tasked by the DoD to train health care workers to staff Ebola treatment units, is scheduled to transition its critical mission for the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance, Jan. 1, 2015.

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola, Operation United Assistance

Paving the way to end Ebola

Article
12/18/2014
Spc. Daniel Martin from Lakefield, Minn., left, watches as Pfc. Melina Knight works on grading the road outside the Ebola Treatment Unit near Buchanan, Liberia, Dec. 16, 2014. Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Eric Hudson, Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Public Affairs/RELEASED)

Members of the 615th Engineer Company, 62nd Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade are making sure the road to the Ebola treatment unit near Buchanan, Liberia is functional

Recommended Content:

Ebola, Pandemic Diseases, Operation United Assistance

Damage control: providing essential medical support to JFC-UA

Article
12/17/2014
Capt. Melanie Bowman, a Camden, Tenn., native and officer in charge for the 86th Damage Control Resuscitation Team, 86th Combat Support Hospital, Fort Campbell, Ky., prepares medical supplies at the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Field Hospital, Dec. 16, 2014. The field hospital has the equipment and personnel to address any immediate medical emergency in theater. Operation United Assistance is a Department of Defense operation in Liberia to provide logistics, training and engineering support to U.S. Agency for International Development-led efforts to contain the Ebola virus outbreak in western Africa. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dani Salvatore, 27th Public Affairs Detachment/RELEASED)

The 86th Damage Control Resuscitation Team is a one-of-a-kind medical team operating in the Joint Forces Command – United Assistance Field Hospital in Monrovia, Liberia, capable of facilitating life-saving interventions and surgeries to personnel, specifically designed for missions like Operation United Assistance.

Recommended Content:

Pandemic Diseases, Ebola, Operation United Assistance
<< < 1 2 > >> 
Showing results 16 - 22 Page 2 of 2

DHA Address: 7700 Arlington Boulevard | Suite 5101 | Falls Church, VA | 22042-5101

Some documents are presented in Portable Document Format (PDF). A PDF reader is required for viewing. Download a PDF Reader or learn more about PDFs.