What is the reservoir host for Ebola virus?

• A. Bats
• B. Cattle
• C. Monkeys
• D. Rodents

Answer: (A)

Bats are the reservoir host for Ebola virus. A reservoir host is an animal that can carry the virus in nature with little or no illness and shed it into the environment, keeping the virus circulating. For Ebola, fruit bats are the primary natural reservoir; they harbor the virus and can shed it in saliva, urine, or feces, enabling spillover to humans or other animals. Human outbreaks often begin after contact with infected bats or exposure to bat habitats or bush meat. While other animals, like monkeys, can become infected and suffer severe disease during an outbreak, they are not the natural reservoir that maintains the virus in nature. Cattle and rodents are not established reservoirs for Ebola.