Early during the West African Ebola epidemic, scientists speculated that the genetic diversity of the Makona strain of virus (EBOV-Makona) would result in more severe disease and more transmissibility than prior strains. However scientists have determined that certain mutations stabilized early during the epidemic and did not alter Ebola disease presentation or outcome. Their work offers evidence to support previous findings that the diversity of EBOV-Makona did not significantly impact the course of disease.