Ebola is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals. In Africa, infection has been documented through the handling of infected chimpanzees, gorillas, fruit bats, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines found dead or ill in the rainforest.
Later Ebola spreads in the community through human-to-human transmission, resulting from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people. Burial ceremonies where mourners have direct contact with the body of the deceased person can also play a role in the transmission of Ebola. Transmission via infected semen can occur up to seven weeks after clinical recovery.
Health-care workers have frequently been infected while treating Ebola patients. This has occurred through close contact without the use of correct infection control precautions and adequate barrier nursing procedures. For example, health-care workers not wearing gloves and/or masks and/or goggles may be exposed to direct contact with infected patients' blood and are at risk.
Among workers in contact with monkeys or pigs infected with Ebola Reston, several human infections have been documented and were clinically asymptomatic. Thus, the Ebola Reston virus appears to be less capable of causing disease in humans than the other Ebola species.
However, the evidence available relates only to healthy adult males. It would be premature to conclude the health effects of the virus on all population groups, such as immuno-compromised persons, persons with underlying medical conditions, pregnant women and children. More studies of Ebola Reston virus are needed before definitive conclusions can be made about the pathogenicity and virulence of this virus in humans.
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/
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