Ebola Sudan first appeared in Sudan, Africa in 1976 at the same time the Ebola Zaire outbreak occurred. The joined outbreak killed 340 of 550 infected people. Ebola Sudan is much like the other filoviruses in that it is thread-shaped and has a high mortality rate. Ebola Sudan kills 60% of the people it infects. It is also infectious to monkeys and other primates.
Another outbreak of Ebola Sudan in 1979 occurred in the same place as the first in 1976. This makes virologist suspect that the natural host of Ebola Sudan is nearby in that location. However, all attempts to locate the natural resevoir have failed. We know just as much about Ebola Sudan as we do the other filoviruses, however unfortunately, that is very little. And with that in mind, are we ready to handle another outbreak in 1997, and one must ask where will it be, in what country? Will it show up here in the United States? Even though it is unlikely, the chance still remains, for we can not predict the emergence and disappearance of these mysterious but deadly viruses.