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How do fatality rates differ among Zaire Ebola virus, Sudan virus, and Bundibugyo virus?
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Ebola
Numerous filamentous ebolavirus particles (blue) budding from a chronically-infected VERO E6 cell (yellow-green) in this digitally colorized scanning electron micrograph produced by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).
Fatality rates for Ebola virus disease vary significantly depending on the specific virus species involved. Among the three species you mentioned, the fatality rates are as follows:
- Zaire ebolavirus (EBOV): This is the deadliest of the ebolaviruses, with a case fatality rate typically ranging from 40 to 90 percent.12
- Sudan virus (SUDV): This species is associated with a fatality rate of approximately 50 percent.2
- Bundibugyo virus (BDBV): This species generally has a lower fatality rate, causing death in roughly 25 to 35 percent of cases.2
It is important to note that while these figures provide a general range, the actual mortality of any given outbreak can be influenced by factors such as the quality of medical care, the speed of diagnosis, and the availability of supportive treatments like hydration.3