The viruses are characterized by long filaments, and have a shape similar to that of the Marburg virus, also in the family Filoviridae, and possessing similar disease symptoms.

• 这些病毒以细长的纤丝为标志，并且有类似于同样隶属于纤丝病毒科家族并且具备同样的疾病特征的绿猴病毒的形态。自从发现以来，伊波拉病毒已经导致多起死亡。