# Overview

Ebola, Hantavirus, and SARS-CoV-2 are three distinct viral threats that have shaped global public health conversations in profound ways. While each virus originates from animal reservoirs and can cause severe illness in humans, they differ dramatically in their modes of transmission, mortality rates, geographic distribution, and clinical presentations. Ebola, first identified in 1976 near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is a hemorrhagic fever virus known for its terrifyingly high fatality rates. Hantavirus, discovered in the 1950s during the Korean War, causes two primary syndromes depending on the strain and is typically transmitted through rodent exposure. SARS-CoV-2, the newest of the three, emerged in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, and rapidly evolved into a global pandemic that fundamentally altered daily life for billions of people. Understanding the differences and similarities among these viruses is critical for preparedness, prevention, and response. Each virus teaches us important lessons about zoonotic spillover, the fragility of public health systems, and the importance of rapid scientific response to emerging infectious diseases.

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# Causative Agents and Virus Families

- Ebola belongs to the family *Filoviridae* and the genus *Ebolavirus*, which includes six identified species: Zaire, Sudan, Bundibugyo, Taï Forest, Reston, and Bombali, with Zaire ebolavirus being the most lethal and most commonly associated with outbreaks.
- Hantavirus belongs to the family *Hantaviridae* and includes multiple species such as Sin Nombre virus (causing Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome) and Hantaan virus (causing Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome), each carried by specific rodent hosts.
- SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the family *Coronaviridae*, genus *Betacoronavirus*, and is closely related to SARS-CoV-1, which caused the 2003 S