The first outbreaks of the Ebola virus occurred in 1976. The nations of Zaire were held in fear as the Ebola virus sprung from an unknown origin killing loved ones. Since this was the first record of the Ebola virus, uneasiness arose as to how to handle Ebola. Due to this no proper precautions were met. Further the infected victims congregated in public areas causing the virus to spread. One in western Sudan followed this first outbreak, also in 1976. In total, these two outbreaks killed 340 people.

It remained dormant for several years and then re-appeared in 1979 in Sudan. Again no cause was identified. This outbreak brought the deaths of 22 patients.

Ebola also struck the United States in 1989.But this outbreak was not harmful to the human population. It was known as Ebola Reston.

The next time it struck was in 1995. It was the Ebola Zaire strain. On April 10, 1995 a patient who was believed to have Malaria, infected the surgical team during an operation. This outbreak took place in the city of Kikwit, Zaire. The virus was contained by a coordinated effort of the international health services.

Later that year on the 24 November 1995, a Swiss researcher of West Africa contracted the disease from a chimpanzee in the Tai forest. (Initially there had been a number of deaths among chimpanzees in the Tai Forest.) She recovered after being rushed to a Swiss hospital.