Short answers, pulled from the story.
Ebolaviruses contain single-stranded, non-infectious RNA genomes and measure 80 nanometers in width while stretching up to 14,000 nanometers in length. These viral particles appear as filamentous shapes resembling a shepherd's crook or the number six.
The first known outbreak of Ebola occurred between June and November 1976 in Nzara South Sudan caused by Sudan virus. This initial outbreak infected 284 people and killed 151 individuals.
Ebola spreads only by direct contact with the blood or other body fluids of a person who has developed symptoms. Body fluids that may contain Ebola viruses include saliva mucus vomit feces sweat tears breast milk urine and semen.
Fruit bats are believed to be the natural host of the viruses without being affected by it. Three types of fruit bats including Hypsignathus monstrosus Epomops franqueti and Myonycteris torquata were found to possibly carry the virus without getting sick.
In all 318 cases and 280 deaths occurred in Zaire representing an 88% fatality rate. The second outbreak began on the 26th of August 1976 in Yambuku a small rural village in northern Zaire now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo.