Ebolavirus
The ebolavirus, a member of the family Filoviridae (filament-shaped viruses), is the cause of Ebola virus disease, or EVD. It is a rare but deadly disease. It spreads from person to person through infected body fluids. Ebola symptoms include fever, pain and bleeding1.
Researchers have found evidence of Ebola infection in three species of fruit bat. The bats show no symptoms of the disease, indicating that they may be the main natural reservoirs of the Ebolavirus. It is possible that there are other reservoirs and vectors. Understanding where the virus incubates between outbreaks and how it is transmitted between species will help protect humans and other primates from the virus2.
1. Copyright: Cleveland Clinic
2. Copyright: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Copyright: Cheryl Safren
Department of Microbiology
