Where did the Ebola virus get its name?

The Ebola virus was named after the Ebola River in central Africa. The Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 during two outbreaks, one in Sudan and one in the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the World Health Organization, or WHO.

The Ebola virus is thought to have originated in fruit bats, and it can spread to people and other animals through close contact, as stated by WHO. As of 2015, the 2014 Ebola outbreak was the largest outbreak of Ebola since the virus was discovered, and it is believed to have started in Guinea and spread to other countries by land and air travel.