• Public

  • Public
  • Network
  • Groups
  • Featured
  • Popular
  • People

Scatter plot titled 'Ebola: How Contagious & Deadly is it?' plotting diseases by fatality rate (y-axis) against R0 contagiousness (x-axis). Ebola sits at around 50% fatality and R0 of 2–3, described as 'very deadly and very contagious'. Only bird flu is higher in fatality at ~60% but less contagious. Nearby: MERS (~35%, R0 ~1), Hantavirus Andes strain (~30%, R0 ~2), smallpox (~30%, R0 ~5). Lower-fatality diseases include COVID-19 pre-vaccination (~7%, R0 ~3) and measles (~1%, R0 ~9). A note explains the 2026 DRC outbreak involves the Bundibugyo variant, one of four Ebola virus species, with no vaccine currently available. Sources: WHO, New York Times. Information is Beautiful.