The World Health Organisation confirms that Ebola virus killed thirteen villagers in Gabon.

Date: 19 Feb 1996
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

The World Health Organisation confirms that Ebola virus killed thirteen villagers in Gabon.

Thirteen people died of an unknown disease in a remote village in Gabon during the month of February 1996. On 19 February 1996, the World Health Organisation confirmed that the disease was in fact Ebola. The deceased included a six month old baby. It was believed that the twelve adults had contracted the disease after eating the meat of a chimpanzee they had found dead in the forest. Ebola is a severe hemorrhagic fever. It is often fatal and infects humans, monkeys, gorillas and chimpanzees. Much about the disease is still unknown. Ebola cases have been reported in countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Gabon, Ivory Coast and Uganda.

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How we know this

01Chicago Tribune (1996) ,"UN confirms Ebola was killer ",From: Chicago Tribune ,[online] Available at: articles.chicagotribune.com [Accessed on 30 January 2013]
02CDC, "Questions and Answers about Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever ",From: CDC [online] Available at: www.cdc.gov [Accessed on 30 January 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2012, February 17). The World Health Organisation confirms that Ebola virus killed thirteen villagers in Gabon.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0074227

South African History Online (2012) 'The World Health Organisation confirms that Ebola virus killed thirteen villagers in Gabon.', South African History Online, 17 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0074227 (Accessed: 21 July 2026).

South African History Online, The World Health Organisation confirms that Ebola virus killed thirteen villagers in Gabon. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0074227, (accessed 21 July 2026).

"The World Health Organisation confirms that Ebola virus killed thirteen villagers in Gabon.." South African History Online, 17 Feb. 2012, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0074227. Accessed 21 July 2026.

South African History Online. "The World Health Organisation confirms that Ebola virus killed thirteen villagers in Gabon.." South African History Online. February 17, 2012. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0074227.