P. Reiter et al., Field investigations of an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever, Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1995: Arthropod studies, J INFEC DIS, 179, 1999, pp. S148-S154
During the final weeks of a 6-month epidemic of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in
Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, an extensive collection of arthro
pods was made in an attempt to learn more of the natural history of the dis
ease. A reconstruction of the activities of the likely primary case, a 42-y
ear-old man who lived in the city, indicated that he probably acquired his
infection in a partly forested area 15 km from his home. Collections were m
ade throughout this area, along the route he followed from the city, and at
various sites in the city itself. No Ebola virus was isolated, but a descr
iption of the collections and the ecotopes involved is given for comparison
with future studies of other outbreaks.