The Bundibugyo virus is one of six known strains of Ebola. It was discovered in 2007 when an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever occurred in the Bundibugyo area of Western Uganda.
When people think of Ebola, they usually think of the Zaire strain, which is the deadliest known version and has a mortality rate of up to 90%! The Bundibugyo strain is still a nasty virus with a mortality rate of 25-40%, but it is less lethal than Zaire.
What type of virus is the Bundibugyo Virus?
Ebola viruses are filoviruses. They look like a stringy thread under a microscope.
How does Ebola spread?
Ebola viruses spread through close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or an animal.
What are the symptoms?
- High fever
- Muscle pain
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Internal and external bleeding in severe cases
Previous Outbreaks
The Bundibugyo strain is very rare, with only two known outbreaks before 2026.
2007 - Uganda - this was the original outbreak in the Bundibugyo district - 131 known infections.
2012 - Democratic Republic of Congo - 52 known infections.
2026 - Democratic Republic of Congo - ongoing outbreak at time of writing
The natural reservoir of the Bundibugyo strain is thought to be local bat populations.
Is there a treatment or vaccine?
There are vaccines and antibody treatments for Ebola, but these are specifically designed for the Zaire strain. Bundibugyo has a slightly different outer protein, so treatments targeted at the Zaire version don't work as well on Bundibugyo.
Last Updated on May 20, 2026 by Emma Vanstone
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