Why do scientists believe that Ebola is NOT a natural human parasite?

Assignment for biology class. Having a hard time with this question.

Comments

  • Because it kills us so very quickly and thoroughly.

    In a normal parasitic relationship, the parasite would not kill the host, because dead host generally means dead parasite, which limits the reproductive potential of the parasite.

  • you are having a hard time because the question is wrong based on definitions. You see Ebola is a virus which, by definition is an obligatory intracellular parasite. so the question you are being asked is why isn't a parasite that affects humans a human parasite? Now some suggest that humans are not the organism that the virus is meant to infect (remember that virus are not considered alive in biology) as it was not documented in humans until 1976 and it is thought it came from another animal source.

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