Have you ever read E.A.Poe's Masque of the Red Death? There is a reason I ask.

I'm doing a research paper on the Ebola Virus for Microbiology. To be straightforward, the symptoms of this disease are gruesome. And, astoundingly, very similar to those displayed by the victims of whatever plague falls upon Poe's fictional characters.

I can't be the only one who's noticed this.

Ebola : High fever, Sudden headache, Severe abdominal pain, Dementia, Bleeding from all orifices ( including pores of the skin, tear ducts-everywhere), Terribly fast progression of disease once symptoms are present, and high mortality rate-anywhere from 23-90% of those infected perish.

"Masque of the Red Death": Abdominal Pain, Dementia, Bleeding from all pores-signified by the "masque", accelerated progression of symptoms, and High mortality-1/2 of the population outside the castle, and all inside the castle die once exposed.

I found this to be a really scary instance of life imitating art. Any other views concerning this? Very interested in hearing what you think of this comparison...

First of all, Masque of the Red Death is an excellent story and one of my favorites of poe.

Good old edgar probably based his story off the black plaugue if anything, I'm not sure as to when or where the ebola virus first srung up, but I think it's just a coincidence.

No! Don't come near me! Arrghh!

It is a coincidence...nothing unsolved, but rather a very creepy instance of considerable similarity.

More likely, it was based off of the symptoms of Yellow Fever, if anything.