A deadly outbreak of Ebola in West Africa in 2014 ignited fears around the globe, including here in the United States. It was the worst outbreak in history. Ebola virus causes severe disease in humans. The largest outbreak on record between 2013 and 2016, resulted in more than 28,000 infections and more than 11,000 deaths.

Kent Brantly, who contracted Ebola while serving as a medical missionary in Liberia, was brought here to Atlanta to be treated at Emory. In addition to Brantly, Emory treated 3 other Ebola patients.

Now, in the same city that treated the first Ebola patients, there could be a new way to potentially fight Ebola virus from Georgia State University. An organic chemical compound shows effective antiviral activity against Ebola and several other viruses, according to a study led by GSU.

Researchers found that benzoquinoline inhibited the ability of Ebola virus to multiply and reproduce in cell cultures.

"This study is part of a larger effort to find new therapies to treat highly dangerous Ebola virus infections," said lead author Dr. Priya Luthra of Georgia State.

Humans may spread the virus to other humans through contact with bodily fluids such as blood. Initial symptoms include fever, headache, muscle pain, and chills. Later, a person may experience internal bleeding resulting in vomiting or coughing up blood. It's a serious illness which is often fatal if untreated.

Ebola virus disease first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in what is now, Nzara, South Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name.