The Development of Ebola Virus Outbreaks: A Review of Epidemiological Trends, Clinical Features, and Treatment Advances

The Ebola virus, a filovirus that causes human Ebola virus disease (EVD), has caused multiple epidemics in the African continent for about 50 years. Wild animals were the source from which the virus was transmitted to humans, and it spread among people through direct contact. The majority of Ebola outbreaks occurred in African nations, particularly in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, and Gabon. Although EVD is a lethal disease, it has posed a challenge to human efforts to comprehend its etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, pathogenesis, and the best methods for treatment and prevention. This review aims to present the history of Ebola epidemics in Africa, each subtype that caused an outbreak, the development of therapies and vaccines, and the significance of travel regulations.