EBOLA And The Basic Reproduction Number

In epidemiology, the basic reproduction number (sometimes called basic reproductive rate, basic reproductive ratio and denoted R0, r nought) of an infection can be thought of as the number of cases one case generates on average over the course of its infectious period, in an otherwise uninfected population.

This metric is useful because it helps determine whether or not an infectious disease can spread through a population. 

When R0 < 1 the infection will die out in the long run. But if R0 > 1 the infection will be able to spread in a population. 

Generally, the larger the value of R0, the harder it is to control the epidemic. 

GO READ THE WHOLE THING.

Values of R₀ of well-known infectious diseases^[1]

Disease	Transmission	R0
Measles	Airborne	12–18
Pertussis	Airborne droplet	12–17
Diphtheria	Saliva	6–7
Smallpox	Airborne droplet	5–7
Polio	Fecal-oral route	5–7
Rubella	Airborne droplet	5–7
Mumps	Airborne droplet	4–7
HIV/AIDS	Sexual contact	2–5
SARS	Airborne droplet	2–5[2]
Influenza (1918 pandemic strain)	Airborne droplet	2–3[3]
Ebola (2014 Ebola outbreak)	Bodily fluids	1-2 [4]