UPDATE: This post was updated on October 24, 2014
Click the infographic to enlarge.
1. Where is the recent Ebola outbreak?
This map from World Health Organization and CNN puts the Ebola outbreak into context. Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone are the most affected countries, but a few cases have popped up in the US, Spain, Nigeria and Senegal.
2. What’s the background of the virus?
A trackmap of Ebola, infographic by Africa Spring
The virus was first discovered by an outbreak in 1976, which up until now has been the worst outbreak on record. There have since been five different strains of the virus.
Tell world leaders: Make bold commitments and help end the Ebola epidemic now.
3. How did humans get it?
How Ebola infections reach humans, infographic by the CDC
It is now thought that the original host of the Ebola virus was bats in west and central Africa. These infected bats bite or cut and infect other species such as duikers and chimpanzees, raising the probabilities of any infectious contact with humans. Still, very little is known about how the virus initially transfers to humans and triggers human-to-human transmission.
4. How does it spread?
Infographic by the CDC
As the Center for Disease Control affirms, you cannot be infected with Ebola through the air, water, or through food. The only way to get Ebola is from touching the bodily fluids of an infected person. What you should take away is that, “Ebola poses no significant risk in the United States.”
5. What else do I need to know?
Infographic by the South China Morning Post.
Do you have additional questions? Almost everything there is to know about Ebola is reported above by the South China Morning Post. For more scientific analysis, visit the CDC’s page dedicated to awareness about the virus.
Learn more about how you can support organizations responding to Ebola.