EBOLA FEVER

Abstract

Problems of etiology, taxonomy and nomenclature of filoviruses, epidemiology, morbidity with a little-known by Russian medics especially dangerous exotic infectious disease - Ebola fever are examined. Significant distinguishing features of 2013 - 2015 epidemic in West Africa were detected - along with its unprecedented length, a decline did not take place as in previous outbreaks, neither causative agent virulence, nor infectivity of the infection during multiple generations from human to human. Literature data analysis allowed to assume that in the process of epidemic focus formation Ebola virus changes its properties and cyclically passes through several successive interconnected phases: an initial reservation phase in unknown ecosystems - animals, either plant, soil or water; intermediate phase of epidemic spread with primary acquisition of high virulence for humans, and then its decline; final stage of hidden circulation of causative agent that is ap-athogenic for humans. This hypothetical chain of natural phases’ transitions of Ebola virus allows to explain and link together phenomenology of this causative agent - rapid fall of virulence and infectivity for humans in foci in dynamics of epidemic outbreaks, quite a high population immunity in nosoareal of the causative agent in Africa, that contradicts the established understanding of its high lethality for humans.

Keywords

• ebola fever
• etiology
• taxonomy and nomenclature of filoviruses
• epidemiology
• epidemic focus formation
• morbidity