Ebola Virus

• Family: Filoviridae; Genus: Ebolavirus • Virion morphology and size: Enveloped, helical, cross-striated nucleocapsid, filamentous or pleomorphic virions that are flexible with extensive branching, 80 nm in diameter and 970-1200 nm in length • Nucleic acid: Linear, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA, ~18,900 kb in length • Physicochemical properties: Stable at room temperature and can resist desiccation; inactivated at 60°C for 30 minutes; infectivity greatly reduced or destroyed by UV light and gamma irradiation, lipid solvents, b-propiolactone, formaldehyde, sodium hypochlorite, and phenolic disinfectants