Ebola Virus Disease
Virology and Species Classification
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is caused by viruses belonging to the family Filoviridae, genus Orthoebolavirus. The family is so named because the virions appear as long, filamentous threads under electron microscopy (Latin: "filo" = thread). There are six recognised species of Orthoebolavirus, each named after the geographic location of first discovery.
- Six Orthoebolavirus species: (1) Orthoebolavirus zairense (Zaire ebolavirus) — most lethal, CFR up to 90%; (2) Orthoebolavirus sudanense (Sudan ebolavirus); (3) Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense (Bundibugyo ebolavirus); (4) Orthoebolavirus restonense (Reston ebolavirus — infects primates and pigs, not typically lethal in humans); (5) Orthoebolavirus taïense (Taï Forest ebolavirus); (6) Orthoebolavirus bombaliense (Bombali ebolavirus — discovered 2016 in bats).
- Bundibugyo ebolavirus was first identified in Bundibugyo District, western Uganda, during an outbreak from August 2007 to February 2008 (192 suspected cases; case fatality rate ~34%, lower than Zaire strain).
- Bundibugyo ebolavirus had caused three outbreaks prior to 2026: Uganda 2007–08, DRC 2012, and now DRC/Uganda 2026.
- Transmission: direct contact with bodily fluids of infected persons or animals; no airborne transmission confirmed; natural reservoir believed to be fruit bats (Pteropodidae family).
- Incubation period: 2–21 days; persons not infectious during incubation.
- No licensed vaccine for Bundibugyo strain; rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo, approved by FDA 2019, WHO prequalified 2020) targets only Zaire strain.
● Tracked since May 17, 2026 · last seen June 23, 2026 · updates as the daily brief publishes
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