What is the Ebola virus, and can it be stopped?

The Ebola virus causes a disease that kills up to 90 percent of those who contract it, but a promising vaccine could provide protection.

Ebola virus, formally called Zaire ebolavirus, is a rare virus that infects humans and nonhuman animals such as pigs and other primates. It is one among several viruses within the genus Ebolavirus, only four of which are known to infect humans: Ebola, Sudan, Taï Forest, and Bundibugyo.

Some viruses within the genus Ebolavirus do not cause symptoms in humans, such as Reston ebolavirus, the variant at the center of the book and TV series The Hot Zone (though it does cause disease in pigs and nonhuman primates). A variant called Bombali virus was recently found in bats, but at present it's unclear whether it infects other animals. Zooming out, Ebolavirus sits within a group called the filoviruses, which includes similar

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

Is banning fishing bad for fishermen? Not in this marine reserve
SeaWorld allegedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet