Ebola is a rare but severe illness that spreads through contact with the blood and body fluids of an infected person or animal. If you have heard about an Ebola outbreak in the news and want clear, reliable facts, this guide explains what the Ebola virus is, where it comes from, the early symptoms to watch for, how it is transmitted, how it is treated, and how to prevent it.
Key facts about Ebola at a glance
- Ebola disease, now formally called Ebola virus disease (EVD), is caused by viruses in the Orthoebolavirus genus.
- It was first identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and South Sudan.
- The incubation period is 2 to 21 days.
- It spreads through direct contact with blood or body fluids, not through casual contact and not through the air like flu.
- Early symptoms include sudden fever, severe headache, muscle pain and extreme tiredness.
- The average Ebola survival rate has improved greatly with early supportive care, and approved vaccines and treatments now exist for the Zaire species.
- Fast action, hand hygiene and safe burial practices stop outbreaks.
What is Ebola?
Ebola virus disease is a serious, often fatal illness in humans. It was previously known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, although not every patient bleeds. The disease damages the immune system and blood vessels, and in severe cases it leads to organ failure.
The virus belongs to the Filoviridae family, the same family as the Marburg virus. The name comes from the Ebola River in the DRC, near where the virus was first recognised.
Types of Ebola virus
There are several species of Ebola virus. Four are known to cause disease in people:
- Zaire ebolavirus (Ebola virus): the most dangerous and best known. It caused the 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic.
- Sudan ebolavirus (Sudan virus): has caused outbreaks in South Sudan and Uganda.
- Bundibugyo ebolavirus (Bundibugyo virus): first identified in Uganda in 2007.
- Taï Forest ebolavirus: identified in Côte d'Ivoire and linked to very few human cases.
A fifth species, Reston ebolavirus, has been found in animals but is not known to cause illness in humans.
This matters because the licensed Ebola vaccine and the approved treatments are designed for Zaire ebolavirus. Outbreaks of Sudan and Bundibugyo viruses are currently managed mainly with supportive care and infection control while candidate vaccines are tested.
A short history of Ebola outbreaks
Ebola was discovered in 1976, when two outbreaks appeared at almost the same time, one in Nzara, South Sudan, and one in Yambuku, DRC. Since then, outbreaks have occurred mostly in Central and East Africa.
- 2014 to 2016, West Africa: the largest Ebola outbreak in history. It spread through Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, with more than 28,000 cases and over 11,000 deaths, and a few cases were reported in other countries.
- 2018 to 2020, DRC: the second largest outbreak, with more than 3,400 cases, in a region affected by conflict.
- Uganda: has had several Ebola outbreaks, including Sudan virus, Bundibugyo virus and, in 2022, another Sudan virus outbreak that was brought under control.
If you are looking for the latest Ebola outbreak figures or news, check the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa CDC and your national ministry of health, because numbers change quickly.
Where does the Ebola virus come from?
Scientists believe the natural hosts of the Ebola virus are fruit bats. The virus passes from bats to other wild animals such as chimpanzees, gorillas and forest antelope, and humans are infected through contact with these animals, whether living or dead, or through handling and preparing bushmeat.
Once a person is infected, the virus spreads from human to human, which is how outbreaks grow.
What causes Ebola?
The cause of Ebola virus disease is infection with an Ebola virus. The virus enters the body through broken skin or through the eyes, nose or mouth. It then multiplies, first in immune cells, and spreads through the body, damaging organs and blood vessels.
How is Ebola transmitted?
Understanding Ebola transmission is the key to prevention. Ebola spreads through direct contact with:
- Blood, vomit, diarrhea, urine, saliva, sweat, breast milk or semen of a person who is sick with Ebola or who has died from it.
- Objects contaminated with these fluids, such as bedding, clothing, needles and syringes.
- Infected wild animals or their meat.
Some important points about how Ebola spreads:
- A person is not contagious before symptoms start.
- Ebola is not spread through the air the way measles or flu is, and it is not spread by mosquitoes.
- The bodies of people who have died from Ebola remain highly infectious, so unsafe funeral and burial practices have driven many outbreaks.
- Health workers and family caregivers are at high risk when protective measures are missing.
- The virus can persist in some body fluids, such as semen, for months after recovery, so survivors are given advice on safe practices.
Ebola symptoms: early signs to watch for
Symptoms can appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure, which is the Ebola incubation period, though most people become ill within 8 to 10 days. The early symptoms of Ebola look like many common illnesses, which is why testing matters.
Early Ebola virus symptoms:
- Sudden fever
- Severe headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Extreme tiredness and weakness
- Sore throat
Symptoms as the disease progresses:
- Vomiting and diarrhoea
- Stomach pain
- Rash
- Red eyes
- Hiccups
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising, which can occur in some patients
The signs of Ebola virus overlap with malaria, typhoid fever and other infections, so a laboratory test is the only way to confirm Ebola. If you develop a fever and have been in contact with a suspected case, or have recently travelled from an outbreak area, call your health facility or national health hotline before visiting so staff can protect themselves, and do not self-medicate or travel while ill.
How is Ebola diagnosed?
Doctors confirm Ebola with laboratory tests on a blood sample, most commonly RT-PCR, which detects the virus's genetic material, and antigen-detection tests. Because early symptoms are not specific, patients are often tested for malaria and other illnesses at the same time. Samples must be handled by trained staff in properly equipped laboratories.
Ebola treatment
Early care greatly improves the chance of survival. Ebola treatment includes:
- Supportive care: oral or intravenous fluids to replace lost fluids, oxygen if needed, blood pressure support, and treatment of other infections and symptoms.
- Monoclonal antibody treatments: two treatments, Inmazeb and Ebanga, are approved for Zaire ebolavirus infection and have significantly improved survival when given early.
There are no approved Ebola-specific treatments yet for Sudan or Bundibugyo virus disease, so supportive care is central in those outbreaks. Anyone with suspected Ebola should be isolated and treated at a designated treatment centre.
Is there an Ebola vaccine?
Yes, for the Zaire species. The Ebola vaccine Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) is licensed and has been used to protect health workers, frontline workers and contacts of confirmed cases through "ring vaccination", in which people around a confirmed case are vaccinated. A two-dose regimen (Zabdeno followed by Mvabea) has also been approved for use in some regions.
These vaccines do not protect against Sudan or Bundibugyo viruses. Trials of candidate vaccines for those species are carried out when outbreaks occur.
Ebola survival rate
The Ebola survival rate depends on the virus species, how early the patient gets care, and the quality of the health system. Across past outbreaks, the average case fatality rate has been around 50%, and ranged from about 25% to 90% in different outbreaks.
Survival improves with:
- Early detection and admission to a treatment centre
- Fluid replacement and supportive care
- Monoclonal antibody treatment for Zaire ebolavirus
Some survivors have long-term effects such as joint pain, fatigue, headaches or vision problems, and need ongoing medical follow-up and community support.
Ebola prevention: how to protect yourself and others
Prevention works. In an outbreak area or when caring for others:
- Wash your hands often with soap and clean water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Avoid contact with the blood and body fluids of anyone who is sick, and do not touch the body of someone who has died of a suspected Ebola infection.
- Do not handle or eat bushmeat, and avoid contact with bats and primates in outbreak areas.
- Follow safe burial guidance from health authorities. Do not wash or touch the body.
- Report symptoms early and seek medical care through official channels.
- Health workers should use full personal protective equipment, follow strict infection prevention and control practices, and isolate suspected cases.
- Get vaccinated if you are in a group recommended for the Ebola vaccine, such as frontline workers and contacts of confirmed cases.
- Rely on official sources such as WHO, Africa CDC and your ministry of health for travel advice and updates, and ignore rumours.
Frequently asked questions about Ebola
What is Ebola in simple terms?
Ebola is a severe viral disease that spreads through contact with the blood or body fluids of a sick person or infected animal. It causes fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea and, in some cases, bleeding.
What causes Ebola?
Ebola is caused by an Ebola virus. It is thought to originate in fruit bats and passes to humans through contact with infected animals, then spreads between people through body fluids.
How do you get Ebola?
You get Ebola through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, through contaminated objects, or through contact with infected wild animals.
Can you get Ebola from someone who has no symptoms?
No. A person with Ebola is not contagious until symptoms begin.
What are the first signs of Ebola?
The first signs are usually sudden fever, severe headache, muscle pain and tiredness. Because these look like malaria and other illnesses, only a laboratory test can confirm Ebola.
How long does it take for Ebola symptoms to appear?
Symptoms appear between 2 and 21 days after exposure.
Is Ebola airborne?
No. Ebola does not spread through the air like flu or measles. It spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids.
Is there a cure for Ebola?
There are approved antibody treatments for Zaire ebolavirus, and early supportive care greatly improves survival. There are no approved Ebola-specific treatments yet for Sudan or Bundibugyo virus.
Is there a vaccine for Ebola?
Yes, for Zaire ebolavirus. The Ervebo vaccine is licensed and used in outbreak response. It does not protect against the Sudan or Bundibugyo viruses.
Can Ebola survivors spread the virus?
Survivors are not contagious through everyday contact, but the virus can remain in some body fluids, such as semen, for months, so survivors are advised on safe practices.
Conclusion
Ebola is a serious disease, but it is preventable and treatable when caught early. Knowing what the Ebola virus is, how it spreads, and what the early symptoms look like helps you act quickly and protects your family and community. Wash your hands, avoid contact with the body fluids of the sick, follow safe burial guidance, and rely on official health sources for updates.
If you or someone you know develops fever, severe headache, vomiting or unexplained bleeding after possible exposure, contact your nearest health facility or national health hotline immediately.
Sources and further reading
• World Health Organization: Ebola disease fact sheet
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: About Ebola disease
• Africa CDC: Ebola outbreak updates
This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a qualified health professional. Last medically reviewed