ISOLATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW STRAIN OF EBOLA VIRUS

We have isolated a new strain of Ebola virus from a nonfatal human case infected during the autopsy of a wild chimpanzee in the Cote-d'lvoire. The wild troop to which this animal belonged has been decimated by outbreaks of haemorrhagic syndromes. This is the first time that a human infection has been connected to naturally-infected monkeys in Africa. Data from the long-term survey of this troop of chimpanzees could answer questions about the natural reservoir of the Ebola virus.