Nzara outbreak and Sudan virus (Sudan ebolavirus)
Brote de Nzara y virus Sudán (Sudan ebolavirus)
- Date
- junio de 1976 · confidence high
- Place
- Nzara, Western Equatoria, South Sudan
- Credited to
- WHO, CDC and Porton Down laboratory teams
- Field
- Life & health
What was discovered
A haemorrhagic fever that appeared among cotton-factory workers at Nzara and killed some 150 of about 284 patients. An Ebola species distinct from the Yambuku one was isolated, the Sudan strain.
The Nzara outbreak preceded Yambuku (DR Congo), which gave the disease its name, by a few weeks; they were recognised as different species later. Case figures are from the 1978 WHO reports.
What it led to
- recognition that several Ebola species exist
- isolation and contact-tracing practices
- trials of vaccines specific to Sudan ebolavirus