Volume 11, Number 2, February 2005

Wild Animal Mortality Monitoring and Human Ebola Outbreaks, Gabon and Republic of Congo, 2001–2003

Pierre Rouquet,* Jean-Marc Froment,† Magdalena Bermejo,‡ Annelisa Kilbourn,§ William Karesh,§ Patricia Reed,§ Brice Kumulungui,* Philippe Yaba,* André Délicat,* Pierre E. Rollin,¶ and Eric M. Leroy*#
*Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon; †European Union Project Cybertracker Monitoring Programme, Libreville, Gabon; ‡Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; §Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USA; ¶Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and #Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Franceville, Gabon

Figure 6. Schematic representation of the Ebola cycle in the equatorial forest and proposed strategy to avoid Ebola virus transmission to humans and its subsequent human-human propagation. Ebola virus replication in the natural host (a). Wild animal infection by the natural host(s) (b), no doubt the main source of infection. Wild animal infection by contact with live or dead wild animals (c). This scenario would play a marginal role. Infection of hunters by manipulation of infected wild animal carcasses or sick animals (d). Three animal species are known to be sensitive to Ebola virus and to act as sources of human outbreaks, gorillas, chimpanzees, and duikers. Person-to-person transmission from hunters to their family and then to hospital workers (e). The wild animal mortality surveillance network can predict and might prevent human outbreaks. Medical surveillance can prevent Ebola virus propagation in the human population.

EID Home | Top of Page | Ahead-of-Print | Past Issues | Suggested Citation | EID Search | Contact Us | Accessibility | Privacy Policy Notice | CDC Home | CDC Search | Health Topics A-Z

This page last reviewed January 20, 2005

Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention