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The Ebola virus that is causing an epidemic in Zaire is one of the deadliest infectious agents, and no one knows why. Scientists can only guess why the thread-shaped virus has suddenly erupted to cause its third major outbreak in central Africa since 1976, when it was discovered in Zaire. Scientists don't know where the virus usually exists in nature or where it has hidden since it caused its last major outbreak, in southern Sudan in 1979. But they do know how to stop the epidemic, and that is why the World Health Organization, a U.N. agency in Geneva, has sent scientists to Zaire to control the virus, which has killed 48 people by the WHO's count

The deadly Ebola virus continues to spread in Zaire, chiefly affecting health care workers in four areas. Some new cases have occurred among families of health workers who apparently transmitted the virus, one of the deadliest known. Six new cases were suspected on May 10 and May 11, 1995

Some of the latest cases have occurred among families of health workers who apparently transmitted Ebola virus, one of the deadliest known, before their symptoms developed or became severe, or after they left hospitals in Kikwit, the focus of the outbreak. Some patients fled the hospital in panic. Others left because their initial flulike symptoms from the Ebola infection improved, but they then went on to bleed profusely from the body at home, presumably spreading the virus to family members through the blood. Yesterday, Governor Bernadin Mungul Diaka, administrative head of Zaire's capital, Kinshasa, announced he had unilaterally extended the quarantine in Kikwit to the entire province of Bandundu after health workers reported that the virus had spread to Masengo, a city 60 miles from Kikwit and on the road to Kinshasa. There is no medical confirmation that the illness has spread, however

The deadly Ebola virus continues to spread in Zaire, chiefly affecting health care workers in up to four areas of the African country. Some of the latest cases have occurred among families of health workers who apparently transmitted the Ebola virus, one of the deadliest known, before their symptoms developed or became severe, or after they left hospitals in Kikwit, the focus of the outbreak. Some patients fled the hospital in panic. Others left because their initial flu-like symptoms from the Ebola infection improved, but they then went on to bleed profusely from the body at home, presumably spreading the virus to family members through the blood

Summary: As the epidemic of the lethal Ebola virus spreads in Zaire, scientists fight to halt it The deadly Ebola virus continues to spread in Zaire, chiefly affecting health-care workers in up to four areas of the African country. Some of the latest cases have occurred among families of health workers who apparently transmitted Ebola virus, one of the deadliest known, before their own symptoms of heavy bleeding and fever developed or became severe or after they left hospitals in Kikwit, the focus of the outbreak

Scientists have found preliminary evidence that the Ebola virus -- one of the deadliest infectious agents known -- is the cause of a mysterious disease that has broken out in Zaire, health officials said Wednesday night. The disease has killed more than 100 people in Zaire, and health officials fear that panic might be aggravating the situation. An announcement of the preliminary laboratory findings, which were made at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, is to be made in Zaire today, said Dr. James Hughes of the federal agency

Scientists have found preliminary evidence that the Ebola virus, one of the deadliest infectious agents known, is the cause of a mysterious disease that has broken out in Zaire, officials of the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday night. The disease has killed at least 59 people in Zaire, and health officials fear that panic may be aggravating the situation there. Perhaps as many as 300 patients, doctors, nurses and other health care workers have fled hospitals in the affected areas, said Dr. Ralph H. Henderson, an assistant director general of WHO, a U.N. agency in Geneva. The Ebola virus was discovered in Zaire in 1976, where it killed 90 percent of the nearly 600 people who were infected there, and in the Sudan. It caused another outbreak in the Sudan in 1979, again killing 90 percent of the victims. There is no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent it, although general hygienic and medical precautions can help curtail its spread

The Ebola virus was discovered in Zaire in 1976, where it killed 90 percent of the nearly 600 people who were infected there, and in the Sudan. It caused another outbreak in the Sudan in 1979, again killing 90 percent of the victims. There is no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent it, although general hygienic and medical precautions can help curtail its spread. Federal and international health officials said the risk of the spread of the Ebola virus outside of Zaire from the current outbreak was very small. Nevertheless, they are alerting quarantine inspectors at major airports to check for signs of illness among travelers from Zaire. The new Ebola outbreak was centered in the city of Kikwit, 250 miles east of Kinshasa, Zaire's capital. But Ebola apparently has spread to another area from Kikwit, said [Ralph H. Henderson] of WHO

*****CORRECTION ran on May 12, 1995, as follows:***** Medical experts say the incubation period for the Ebola virus ranges from two to 21 days. An Associated Press graphic on Page A2 yesterday cited a narrower time range. Scientists have found preliminary evidence that the Ebola virus, one of the deadliest infectious agents known, is the cause of a mysterious disease that has broken out in Zaire, the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said last night. The Ebola virus was discovered in Zaire in 1976, where it killed 90 percent of the nearly 600 people who were infected there, and in the Sudan. It caused another outbreak in the Sudan in 1979, again killing 90 percent of the victims. There is no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent it, although general hygienic and medical precautions can help curtail its spread

Scientists have found preliminary evidence that the Ebola virus, one of the deadliest infectious agents known, is the cause of a mysterious disease that has broken out in Zaire, health officials said Wednesday night. The disease has killed at least 59 people in Zaire, and health officials fear that panic may be aggravating the situation. Perhaps as many as 300 patients, doctors, nurses and other health care workers have fled hospitals in the affected areas, said Dr. Ralph H. Henderson, an assistant director general of World Health Organization, a U.N. agency in Geneva. The Ebola virus was discovered in Zaire in 1976, where it killed 90 percent of the nearly 600 people who were infected there and in Sudan. It caused another outbreak in Sudan in 1979, again killing 90 percent of the victims. There is no specific treatment or vaccine to prevent it, although general hygienic and medical precautions can help curtail its spread