Published on January 21, 2015 at 5:32
Congo(Africa): Gorillas and Chimpanzees in the world are also under the threat of Ebola virus. The infectious microorganisms have appeared to be the single greatest destroyer of the global existence of gorillas and chimpanzees. As per the latest reports, one-third of their population is being wiped out since the 1990s.
The virus is appeared to be more deadly to great apes than on humans. Among apes the Ebola virus has established a higher fatality rate of 95% for gorillas and 77% for chimpanzees whereas the fatality rate for humans is around 50%. As per the latest analysis reports, Ebola has been found responsible for minimizing the population of apes.
Even though the outbreaks of the Ebola virus are infrequent, they are capable to wipe out huge swathes of the animals during the time of its attack. In 1995, an Ebola outbreak had killed off 90% of gorillas in a national park in Gabon while during the 2002-2003 outbreak, nearly 5,000 gorillas were lost their lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
As per the latest estimation, about 100,000 gorillas should be found alive in the various forests of the world. This strength is absolutely a major blow to their population.
Thus, like humans, the great apes too are in need of an effective Ebola vaccine.
Africa’s great apes are also facing threat from poaching, environmental destruction, war and other infectious diseases.
Video about the outbreak of Ebola among Apes
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