Ebola
The infection: Ebola, caused by four closely related species of the Ebola virus.
Its threat potential: In some ways, Ebola has gotten easier to manage, thanks to a recently developed preventative vaccine and antibody treatments. But outbreaks of the zoonotic disease have become more frequent in recent years as well. The Democratic Republic of Congo, for instance, is currently experiencing its sixth outbreak since 2018. Survivors of Ebola may also carry latent infections that can later cause new outbreaks.
Symptoms and treatment: Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, and weakness, which can progress to diarrhea, vomiting, and heavy internal bleeding. In past outbreaks, its fatality rate has been as high as 90%, but newer treatments can now significantly reduce the odds of death.
