Animation of Ebola virus particles tumbling towards the viewer. Ebola virus causes Ebola virus disease, a type of haemorrhagic fever. It is spread by contact with infected body fluids, and has a mortality rate of around 50% on average. The virus is a long strand covered in glycoprotein spikes, with which it attaches to its host cells. The strand contains a protein coat surrounding a single-stranded RNA genetic material. The virus originated in central and western Africa, where is has caused a number of outbreaks, including the largest one in 2013-2014.