Ebola Strain Found in Pigs for the First Time

Discovery prompts fears deadly virus could mutate.

Published July 2009 Reston ebolavirus has been found in pigs in the Philippines.

A form of ebola virus has been detected in pigs for the first time, raising concerns it could mutate and threaten humans, scientists report. Reston ebolavirus has only been seen in monkeys and humans previously and, unlike other types of ebola, it is not known to cause illness in people. The discovery of REBOV in pigs in the Philippines was reported in the journal Science in early July of 2009. Researchers say it is theoretically possible for the virus to mutate in pigs into a form that might sicken people. However, they noted that while some of the farm workers tending the pigs also had become infected, they showed no signs of illness.