Yes. Not "on the loose", however. Several military research centers have access to the different strains of Ebola, including Ebola Zaire (the most lethal strain) and Ebola Reston. Ebola Reston (named after Reston, Virginia, where the strain emerged) is the mildest form of the virus, and though it is very deadly in monkeys, it does not effect humans. Ebola Reston symtoms, if any, typically include a mild cough or cold.
What are the four Ebola virus strains?
Ebola Zaire, Ebola Sudan, Ebola Tai Forest, and Ebola Reston. All belong to the filovirus family, and are closely related to another hemorrhagic fever, Marburg.
Is there a cure/treatment?
No. There is not even a vaccine, so obviously no immunization is possible. The closest we have come to developing a way to ward off Ebola virus is the idea of using snake venom, which, being tested with related diseases before, has had a positive effect. There is also the idea of a native plant aiming towards the same objective, but so far nothing has come out for sure. A cure, if possible, will take many years, if not decades, to be produced.
The normal procedures for an Ebola infected individual is to be hospitalized and isolated. There is not much for doctors and hospital staff to do from there, except to make the patient comfortable and wait for the virus to either disappear or consume the victim. Medical staff and people working near the infected wear gloves, face masks, gowns, and if possible, entire suits to protect from the virus.
What is the most recent outbreak?
The most recent Ebola virus outbreak occurred in the African country of Uganda, in 2000-2001. The strain was Ebola Sudan, which of the four, is one of the most deadly. It infected the Gulu, Mbarara, and Masindi districts. Out of the 425 people infected, the mortality rate between them was 53%. That means over half of the diseased died. The outbreak was caused by people having contact with former fever victims and spread when proper procedures and practices were not used.
Why is it called "Ebola"?
For the Ebola River area in Africa, where the virus first emerged.
Who first "discovered" Ebola?
Although numerous amounts of people were involved, probably the most noted is Dr. Shem Musoke, who worked at the Nairobi Hospital where Charles Monet (not his real name) came in 1976. Monet, a 56 year old Frenchman who worked on a sugar plantation in Kenya, was the first human credited to being infected with the virus. When he went to the Nairobi Hospital, where he crashed and bled out (see excerpt on homepage), Dr. Musoke was the doctor who saw to him. Although he did not recognize the virus (no one at that time did) he is usually the one people will refer to when asked who discovered Ebola.
Who are some Ebola survivors?
The above-mentioned Dr. Musoke is a survivor of the Ebola Zaire strain. He contracted the disease from Monet when black vomit (vomito negro) got into his eyes. Several days after he developed a headache and red eyes. Thinking that he might be infected with malaria, Musoke received a shot fighting the disease. When his condition only worsened, however, he came to Dr. Antonia Bagshawe, a fellow physician, who was unable to produce anything definite. By this time Musoke was well under way with Ebola Zaire. Exploratory surgery was conducted, and doctors of his hospital discovered that his liver was red and unhealthy looking, and when they took a sample of it his blood would not clot. This is a sure sign of Ebola.
Although Shem Musoke did eventually recover, he is one of the few that have. Ebola Zaire has a mortality rate of 50%-90%. This means that normally, out of ten people infected with the strain, only one will survive.