Ebola Virus: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment and Care
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 2 Nov 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Information on the Ebola virus, including transmission facts, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and current treatment and prevention methods for the disease.
At a Glance
- 1 - People infected with Ebola are not contagious until symptoms begin.
- 2 - Six species of Orthoebolavirus are known, and four of them cause disease in people.
- 3 - The Ervebo vaccine, approved by the FDA in December 2019, protects against the Zaire species of Ebola.
- 4 - The 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic, the largest on record, caused 28,616 reported cases and 11,310 deaths.
Topic Definition
- Ebola Virus Disease
Ebola virus disease (EVD), also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or simply Ebola, is a severe and often fatal illness affecting humans and other primates, caused by viruses of the family Filoviridae, genus Ebolavirus. The virus passes to people from wild animals and then spreads through human-to-human transmission, typically by direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person or with contaminated objects such as needles. After an incubation period of two days to three weeks, it generally begins with fever, sore throat, muscle pain, and headache, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, reduced liver and kidney function, and in some cases internal and external bleeding. Of the five identified subspecies, four have caused disease in people, making Ebola one of the deadliest viruses known to humankind.
Overview
Ebola disease, also called Ebola virus disease (EVD) or Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare but severe and often fatal illness in people and other primates, such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and monkeys. It is caused by viruses of the genus Orthoebolavirus (formerly Ebolavirus) in the family Filoviridae. The virus passes to people from wild animals and then spreads from person to person through direct contact with the blood and body fluids of someone who is sick or has died of the disease [World Health Organization, 2025].
Ebola was first identified in 1976 in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo, near the Ebola River, and in an outbreak in Sudan the same year. Since then, outbreaks have occurred from time to time, mostly in Central and West Africa. The largest, the 2014 to 2016 West Africa epidemic, mainly affected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Ebola Virus Species
Six species of Orthoebolavirus have been identified. Four have caused disease in people:
- Ebola virus (Zaire ebolavirus), the cause of most large outbreaks
- Sudan virus
- Tai Forest virus
- Bundibugyo virus
Reston virus has caused disease in non-human primates, but not in people, and Bombali virus, found in bats in 2018, is not known to cause disease. Fruit bats are thought to be the natural hosts of the viruses. Reston virus was found in monkeys imported to the United States and Italy from the Philippines; several workers were infected but did not become ill.
How Ebola Spreads
The first person in an outbreak is thought to become infected through contact with an infected animal, such as a fruit bat or a sick or dead primate, often while hunting or preparing bushmeat. Ebola then spreads between people through direct contact, through broken skin or the eyes, nose, or mouth, with the blood or body fluids (such as vomit, feces, urine, saliva, sweat, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola, and through objects such as needles and bedding that are contaminated with these fluids. Ebola does not spread through the air like the flu. People are not contagious until they have symptoms. The virus can stay in some body fluids, such as semen, of people who have recovered for months [World Health Organization, 2025].
Family members and health workers caring for sick people, and people taking part in burial ceremonies that involve touching the body, are at highest risk. In past outbreaks, Ebola spread rapidly in clinics and hospitals where staff did not have protective equipment and where needles were reused without sterilization.
A digitally colorized scanning electron micrograph (SEM) depicts filamentous Ebola virus particles (blue) budding from a chronically infected VERO E6 cell (yellow-green). Photo: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Signs and Symptoms of Ebola
Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure, most often within 8 to 10 days. They usually begin suddenly with fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat, followed by:
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Stomach pain
- Rash
- Red eyes
- Weakness and loss of appetite
- Chest pain, cough, and difficulty breathing
- Hiccups
- Signs of kidney and liver damage
- In some cases, bleeding inside and outside the body, such as from the gums or in the stool
Laboratory tests often show low white blood cell and platelet counts and raised liver enzymes. On average, about half of people with Ebola die, but case fatality rates have ranged from 25 to 90 percent in past outbreaks. Survivors may have long-term problems such as joint pain, eye problems including vision loss, fatigue, and mental health effects [World Health Organization, 2025].
Diagnosis
Early Ebola is hard to tell apart from more common illnesses such as malaria, typhoid fever, and meningitis. If Ebola is suspected because of symptoms and possible exposure, the person should be isolated at once and public health authorities notified. Ebola is confirmed with laboratory tests, mainly reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on a blood sample.
Treating Ebola
Early supportive care, such as fluids given by mouth or through a vein, balancing electrolytes, oxygen, blood pressure support, and treatment of other infections, greatly improves survival. For Ebola virus (the Zaire species), two monoclonal antibody treatments were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2020, Inmazeb in October and Ebanga (ansuvimab) in December, and both are recommended by the World Health Organization. There are no approved treatments yet for Sudan or Bundibugyo virus.
Preventing Ebola
The Ervebo vaccine, approved by the FDA in December 2019, protects against Ebola virus (the Zaire species) and is used to protect health workers and people in contact with patients during outbreaks. A second vaccine regimen, Zabdeno and Mvabea, is approved in Europe. There is no licensed vaccine yet for Sudan or Bundibugyo virus.
Other key measures include:
- Contact tracing: finding everyone who had contact with a person with Ebola and watching them for 21 days, so that new cases can be isolated quickly.
- Infection control in health care: protective clothing, gloves, masks, and eye protection; isolation of patients; safe handling and disposal of needles and other sharp objects; and careful cleaning and disinfection.
- Safe burials that avoid direct contact with the body of a person who died of Ebola.
- Avoiding contact with fruit bats and with sick or dead wild animals, and cooking animal products thoroughly.
- For survivors, safer sex practices until semen has tested negative for the virus.
The 2014 to 2016 West Africa Ebola Epidemic
The largest Ebola outbreak on record began in Guinea in December 2013 and was confirmed in March 2014. By September 2014 it had spread to five countries in West Africa and killed nearly 2,000 people, and health experts called for a massive global response. In cities such as Monrovia in Liberia, the epidemic closed most health facilities, so untreated injuries and other illnesses caused further deaths. By the time the epidemic ended in 2016, 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths had been reported in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, with smaller numbers in other countries, and the true numbers may have been higher.
The epidemic led to new safety protocols in hospitals worldwide, such as ways to take chest X-rays of patients with suspected Ebola while limiting the exposure of staff and equipment to body fluids, and to the rapid testing of the vaccine and treatments now in use.
Colorized transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of the Ebola virus. Photo: Frederick A. Murphy, via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Ebola Facts and Statistics
- Ebola was first identified in 1976, near the Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- The average case fatality rate is around 50%, with a range of 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
- The incubation period, from infection to the first symptoms, is 2 to 21 days.
- People are not infectious until they develop symptoms.
- Ebola does not spread through the air like the flu or COVID-19.
Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak Updates: Track the evolving Bundibugyo Ebola outbreak in DRC and Uganda: case counts, deaths, cross-border spread, and the latest WHO response and risk levels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a vaccine available to prevent Ebola?
Approved Ebola vaccines now exist for certain virus strains and are used during outbreaks to protect frontline workers and contacts, though availability depends on the specific strain and region involved.
Can you catch Ebola from someone who has no symptoms?
No, people infected with Ebola are not contagious until they begin showing symptoms, which is why isolating symptomatic patients is central to stopping the spread.
How long does it take to recover from Ebola?
Recovery varies by individual, but survivors often need weeks to months to regain strength, and some experience lingering effects such as joint pain, vision problems, and fatigue.
Can Ebola survive on surfaces outside the body?
Ebola can persist for a time on contaminated surfaces and objects, so thorough cleaning, disinfection, and safe disposal of medical instruments are essential during outbreaks.
Is it safe to travel to countries with an active Ebola outbreak?
Travel risk depends on the outbreak's location and scale, and health authorities may issue advisories, so travelers should check current guidance and practice recommended precautions.
Can Ebola be transmitted through the air like the flu?
Ebola does not spread through casual airborne transmission, and instead requires direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects to pass between people.
Do Ebola survivors develop immunity to the virus?
Survivors typically develop antibodies that may offer protection against the specific strain they had, though the strength and duration of that immunity is still being studied.
How is Ebola treated?
Treatment includes supportive care such as fluids, oxygen, and treating other infections, along with antibody medicines for the Zaire species. Early treatment greatly improves the chance of survival.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). About Ebola.
- World Health Organization. (2025). Ebola disease [Fact sheet].
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team. Last updated: