Who would have thought it? A cuddly toy in the shape of a virus! These cuddly characters are incredibly endearing and educational too. Each one comes with a detailed scientific description and photograph of what he looks like under the microscope, along with medical tips on how to avoid picking up these bugs in daily life. Children seem to be totally fascinated by them, and it really helps when explaining all about why they are feeling poorly. The perfect gift to accompany a Get Well card. Also a brilliant present for medical students, doctors and nurses etc. You will soon understand why they are becoming amazingly popular! Start collecting now. Facts: Although the origins of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever are unknown, the Ebola virus was first recognised in 1976 near the Ebola River in The Congo in Africa. You do not want to get Ebola! A short incubation period of 2-21 days presages symptoms which include fever, aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhoea, stomach pain, vomiting, and both internal and external bleeding. And then, for between 50 and 90% of victims, death. Because the initial symptoms mimic those of many diseases, it can be difficult to diagnose Ebola correctly. Fortunately cases occur only sporadically. In several years since 1976, there have been no identified cases. And even the outbreaks have been limited to a few hundred cases many of which have been the result of nosocomical transmission (transmission in a healthcare setting.) Other than an infection in England caused by a contaminated needle and a few scares in Italy and the United States caused by monkeys in quarantine facilities in the early 1990's, cases have thus far been confined to remote parts of Africa. So if you're under the weather, don't worry, you probably have something else.