First discovered in Central Africa in 1976, the Ebola virus causes its victim to develop a fever and bleed internally and externally. Once the disease progresses, the virus has a 50 to 90 percent fatality rate in humans — and for now, there is no cure.
Scientists attribute the introduction of the Ebola virus to fruit bats, and a growing concern is how the virus affects animals. The virus has also been detected in monkeys, chimpanzees, rodents, pigs, gorillas, porcupines and dogs. However, primates and humans seem to suffer the most adverse effects of the disease.
As of this writing, the virus has not been found in any wild felids in Africa, so experts feel that cats are probably immune. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the American Veterinary Medical Association do not believe that pets are at significant risk for Ebola in the United States.
