The Ebola virus disease currently ravaging three West African countries kills 9 out of 10 of its victims.

It has no known cure and victims can only be quarantined while receiving supportive care.

The great fear today is that Ebola will break out of Africa and infect the rest of the world, starting with Europe.

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Many don't realize that Asia has had Ebola outbreaks in the past. Thankfully, the Ebola strains that hit Indonesia and the Philippines were the non-virulent type.

In 2012, Indonesian scientists detected Ebola-like antibodies in blood samples from some 350 orangutans at two Borneo nature reserves. The scientists weren't sure how the viruses found its way into the orangutans.

In 1989 in Reston, Virginia, macaque monkeys imported from the Philippines were found to be infected with the Ebola virus. This virus was later named the Ebola-Reston virus, one of five known types of the virus.

In both cases, no humans became sick because of the virus.

It pays to know more about Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), which is the human disease caused by Ebola viruses.

What is EVD?

EVD is a disease caused by one of five different Ebola viruses. Four of the strains can cause severe illness in humans and animals. The fifth, the Ebola-Reston virus, has caused illness in some animals but not in humans.

The five subspecies of the Ebola virus are Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV), Sudan ebolavirus (SUDV), Bundibugyo ebolavirus (BDBV), Taï Forest ebolavirus (TAFV) and Reston ebolavirus (RESTV).

Ebola was first identified in Africa in 1976. The virus is named after the Ebola River where the virus was first recognized in 1976. The first human outbreaks occurred in this year.

The first outbreak was in the northern part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Central Africa. The other was in South Sudan. The Congo outbreak had 318 reported human cases leading to 280 deaths.

How are humans infected?

Humans can be infected by other persons if they come in contact with body fluids from an infected person. They can be infected by contaminated objects from infected persons.

The disease can also infect humans through close contact with infected animals such as chimpanzees and fruit bats or by butchering infected animals.

Funerals of Ebola victims can be dangerous if mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased victim.

Where does Ebola come from?

Scientists believe the most likely natural hosts of the virus are fruit bats.

What are Ebola's symptoms?

Symptoms typically include fever, diarrhea, aches, weakness, vomiting and stomach pain. Other symptoms include red eyes, a rash, chest pain, throat soreness and difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Victims are infectious as long as their blood and secretions contain the virus.

When do symptoms appear?

Symptoms typically appear 8 to 10 days after exposure to the virus. The virus' incubation period can last anywhere from two to 21 days.

Where have Ebola outbreaks occurred?

Deadly human outbreaks have been confirmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, South Sudan, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia -- all in Africa.

What treatments are there for Ebola?

The World Health Organization says there is no specific treatment or vaccine for Ebola.

It noted that the fatality rate from the more virulent strains can hit 90 percent. Patients can only be given "supportive care" that includes providing fluids and food.

Since victims frequently become dehydrated, they should drink solutions containing electrolytes or receive intravenous fluids.

How widespread is Ebola?

There have been over 3,000 reported Ebola cases and more than 1,600 deaths since the discovery of Ebola.

The current outbreak in West Africa is occurring in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. There are 396 confirmed or suspected cases of EVD in Guinea resulting in 280 deaths

In Liberia, there are 63 suspected or confirmed cases causing 41 deaths. In Sierra Leone, there have been 176 suspected or confirmed cases with 46 deaths.

How can we avoid the virus?

WHO said this can be accomplished by avoiding contact with Ebola patients and their bodily fluids. It cautions people not to touch anything that could have become contaminated in a public place.