Strain · EBOV

Zaire virus

The most lethal and best-studied ebolavirus species. Caused the 1976 Yambuku, 1995 Kikwit, 2014–2016 West Africa, and 2018–2020 Kivu outbreaks. The only species currently covered by FDA-approved vaccines (Ervebo, Zabdeno/Mvabea) and monoclonal antibody therapeutics (Inmazeb, Ebanga).

Last updated 2026-05-17

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Scientific name: Zaire ebolavirus
Abbreviation: EBOV
Discovered: 1976 · Yambuku, then-Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo)
Pathogenic in humans: Yes
Case fatality (historical): 40–90%
Recognised outbreaks: 15
Natural host: Suspected reservoir: African fruit bats (notably Hypsignathus monstrosus, Epomops franqueti, Myonycteris torquata). Direct isolation from live bats remains rare; serological evidence is the primary line.
CFR notes: Highest historical CFR among species. The 1976 index outbreak in Yambuku had a reported 88% CFR; the 2014–2016 West Africa outbreak was approximately 40% across all confirmed cases.

Recognised outbreaks of Zaire virus

Year	Location	Cases	Deaths	CFR	Notes
2025	DRC · Kasaï Province	81	28	34.6%	-
2021	DRC · Butembo, North Kivu	12	6	50.0%	Resurgence linked to viral persistence in survivors of the 2018–2020 outbreak.
2021	Guinea · N’Zérékoré Region	23	12	52.2%	First recognised Ebola resurgence in Guinea since 2016. Genome analysis suggested persistence from the 2014–2016 outbreak.
2021	DRC · North Kivu	11	9	81.8%	-
2020	DRC · Équateur Province	130	55	42.3%	-
2018	DRC · Bikoro, Mbandaka - Équateur Province	54	33	61.1%	First operational use of Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) in ring vaccination.
2018–2020	DRC, Uganda · North Kivu, Ituri, South Kivu - armed-conflict zones	3,470	2,280	65.7%	Second-largest Ebola outbreak. PHEIC declared 17 July 2019. Conflict, mistrust, and attacks on health workers extended duration to 23 months.
2014	DRC · Équateur Province	66	49	74.2%	-
2013–2016	Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal · Multiple - first cross-border ebolavirus epidemic	28,616	11,310	39.5%	Largest Ebola outbreak in recorded history. PHEIC declared 8 August 2014. Drove rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo) clinical trials.
2008–2009	DRC · Mweka, Luebo	32	14	43.8%	-
2007	DRC · Luebo, Mweka - Kasaï-Occidental	264	187	70.8%	-
2005	Republic of the Congo · Etoumbi	12	10	83.3%	-
2001–2003	Gabon, Republic of the Congo · Border regions - Mbomo, Kelle	302	254	84.1%	-
1996–1997	Gabon · Mayibout 2, Booué, Libreville	91	66	72.5%	-
1995	Zaire (now DRC) · Kikwit	315	254	80.6%	Hospital amplification; first outbreak with extensive international response.
1994–1995	Gabon · Makokou - gold-mining camps	52	31	59.6%	-
1976	Zaire (now DRC) · Yambuku	318	280	88.1%	Index outbreak. Reused needles in a mission hospital amplified spread. Named for the Ebola River near Yambuku.