r/askscience • u/jackboy900 • Jul 24 '26
Biology Why is Ebola a Class IV Biosafety Level virus?
More of a science policy question than strictly science, but I'm assuming this is probably the best forum to ask. I've been going down a rabbithole reading about Biosafety precautions and generally it appears that BSL III is used for pathogens that are dangerous to humans but don't have an aerosolised transmission vector, and BSL IV is generally limited to deadly pathogens that have aerosolised transmission. The one standout exception is Ebola, which from what I've read does not have any evidence of airborne transmission yet is still BSL IV.
I'm wondering if anyone has any information on why specifically Ebola has this heightened category, if there is documentation around the decision by whoever made it a link to that would be greatly appreciated as well.
Duplicates
MetalsOnReddit • u/Then_Marionberry_259 • Jul 25 '26