Bundibugyo virus

Bundibugyo virus (BDBV) is a species of the genus Ebolavirus, which is part of the family Filoviridae. It is one of the five known viruses within the genus Ebolavirus that cause Ebola virus disease in humans, the others being Sudan virus, Tai Forest virus, Zaire ebolavirus, and Reston virus.

History

The Bundibugyo virus was first identified in 2007 during an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in the Bundibugyo District of western Uganda. The outbreak, which lasted from August to December 2007, resulted in 149 suspected cases and 37 deaths.

Virology

Bundibugyo virus is a Filovirus, a type of virus that is characterized by filamentous or thread-like particles. Like other members of the Ebolavirus genus, Bundibugyo virus is a negative-sense RNA virus, meaning that its RNA is complementary to the mRNA used to synthesize proteins.

Transmission and symptoms

Bundibugyo virus is transmitted to humans from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission. The virus is introduced into the human population through close contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected animals.

The symptoms of Bundibugyo virus infection are similar to those of other Ebola viruses and include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding.

Prevention and treatment

There is currently no licensed treatment proven to neutralize the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development. Preventive measures include avoiding contact with infected individuals and regular hand washing.

See also

• Ebola virus disease
• Filoviridae
• Zoonosis