Two key parameters describing the s

Two key parameters describing the spread of an infection are the basic and the effective reproduction
numbers, R and R , which are defined as the number of secondary infections generated by an
infected index case in the absence and presence of control interventions. If R drops below unity, the
epidemic eventually stops. Several studies have fitted mathematical models to data from previous
outbreaks of the genus Ebolavirus. Previous estimates of R from two outbreaks in Congo (1995)
and Uganda (2000) range from 1.3 to 2.7. It will be important to know the reproduction numbers of
the current EBOV outbreak and how it is affected by public health interventions. This will facilitate
making projections of the epidemic during the next months and will allow comparisons of the effects
of control measures in each country.