Origin of the disease. The first reported case of the deadly virus came in 1976 and it is named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo which was where it was discovered.At the time, the area where the disease was spotted was officially recognized as Zaire. The virus has since spread throughout the region.he first reported case of the deadly virus came in 1976 and it is named after the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of Congo which was where it was discovered.