Ebola - Causes

Causes

EVD is caused by four of five viruses classified in the genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae, order Mononegavirales: Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), Ebola virus (EBOV), Sudan virus (SUDV), and Taï Forest virus (TAFV). The fifth virus, Reston virus (RESTV), is thought to be apathogenic for humans and therefore not discussed here.

Genus Ebolavirus: species and their EVD-causing viruses
Species name Virus name (Abbreviation)
Bundibugyo ebolavirus (accepted) Bundibugyo virus (BDBV; previously BEBOV)
Sudan ebolavirus Sudan virus (SUDV; previously SEBOV)
Taï Forest ebolavirus Taï Forest virus (TAFV; previously CIEBOV)
Zaire ebolavirus* Ebola virus (EBOV; previously ZEBOV)

Table legend: "*" denotes the type species and "accepted" refers to a taxon that has been accepted by the Executive Committee of the ICTV but that has yet to be ratified.

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