Is Ebola a virus or a bacterium?

The Ebola virus is named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the disease claimed its first known victims in 1976. A separate strain broke out simultaneously in Nzara, Sudan. read more

While bacteria can be combated with antibiotics, the same is not true of viruses. Ebola is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus and multiplies particularly rapidly in its host creating a high pathogen dose. read more

WebMD explains the latest info on the rare but deadly disease Ebola, including how it's spread, symptoms, causes, treatment, and prevention. read more