Because the natural reservoir host of Ebola has not yet been confirmed, the way in which the virus first appears in a human at the start of an Ebola outbreak is unknown. Based on evidence and the nature of other similar viruses, researchers believe that Ebola is animal-borne (zoonotic) and that bats are the most likely reservoir. Scientists believe that the first patient becomes infected through contact with an infected animal, such as a fruit bat or primate (apes and monkeys), which is called a spillover event. Person-to-person transmission follows and can lead to large numbers of affected people.
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