Humans contract Ebola from infected animals. After the initial transmission, the virus can be passed on through contact with body fluids. Since Ebola was discovered in 1976, several outbreaks have occurred, primarily in Africa. The most severe outbreak happened between 2014 and 2016, causing more than 11,000 deaths, mostly in three countries in West Africa. The virus has flared on and off since then, including the second-deadliest outbreak in 2018 in Democratic Republic of the Congo, with more than 2,000 deaths. In 2022, smaller outbreaks have been reported in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Tai Forest (formerly called Ivory Coast)SudanZaire (the former country name of Democratic Republic of the Congo)BundibugyoReston
The virus that caused the 2014–2016 outbreak in Africa belonged to the Zaire species. Reston is the only strain that doesn’t cause severe disease in humans.
FeverSevere headacheChillsJoint and muscle achesWeakness or fatigue
These first signs may be vague and hard to recognize as Ebola.
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach painRed eyesChest painCough or sore throatA raised rashSevere weight lossBruisingBleeding (usually from the eyes)Internal bleeding
Learn More About Signs and Symptoms of Ebola Bats carrying the virus may transfer it to other animals (such as apes and monkeys). Human beings can contract Ebola through close contact with an infected animal. When humans pick up Ebola, they can spread the virus through their bodily fluids and secretions, such as blood, vomit, and feces, and any materials contaminated with those fluids. Healthcare workers who treat Ebola can be infected if they come in close contact with patients.
Ebola and Animals
Close contact with infected bats or other animals with the virus is one way to contract Ebola from animals. Another is handling or eating bushmeat — wild animals hunted for food — in areas where Ebola is common. Some studies have shown that Ebola has been detected in dogs and cats that live in affected areas.
Risk Factors
Travel to areas in Africa where outbreaks have occurredTreat or care for other people with the virusConduct research on high-risk animalsPrepare the bodies of people who have died from Ebola for burial
A combination of symptoms suggestive of the virusA possible exposure to Ebola within 21 days of when symptoms started
If someone does show early signs of the virus and has a possible exposure, public health authorities should be notified. Additionally, the patient should be isolated and given a blood test.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Prognosis of Ebola
Scientists aren’t sure why some people are able to bounce back from Ebola, while others aren’t. Receiving prompt supportive treatment is one way to improve your chances of surviving the virus. Researchers have not yet been able to determine the effectiveness of the newly approved treatments for Ebola, but there have been some hopeful signs, with two early trials stopped quickly and rolled out live in 2019 because they demonstrated a clear ability to significantly reduce the fatality rate from the virus. And the government of Uganda moved quickly in the fall of 2022 to launch clinical studies of the vaccine’s impact on the new outbreak there.
Supportive Care
Receiving extra fluids and oxygenMaintaining blood pressureReplacing lost bloodTreating other infections
Medication Options
Another experimental therapy, called ZMapp, combines three monoclonal antibodies that bind to the protein of the Ebola virus, inactivating it.
Ebola Vaccines
The first official Ebola vaccine was approved by the FDA on December 19, 2019. Ervebo, a vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck, was shown to effectively protect people from getting infected during a trial that took place during the 2014–2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Because treatment options aren’t always effective for Ebola, some people look to alternative approaches. Most of these methods have not been proven to work and are merely internet claims that you should not rely on if you are ill with Ebola.
Prevention of Ebola
Avoid visiting areas with known outbreaks.Isolate infected patients from anyone who doesn’t have Ebola.Have healthcare workers wear protective gear, including gloves, masks, goggles, gowns, and other clothing, while caring for Ebola patients.Decontaminate or destroy any surfaces or materials a patient has had contact with, including syringes, needles, and other medical equipment.Wash hands frequently with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer.Avoid handling or eating bushmeat.Monitor anyone who comes into contact with an Ebola patient.
The Ebola virus can survive for several hours on dry surfaces, like doorknobs and countertops. And it can live for up to several days at room temperature in body fluids.
Controlling Outbreaks
Since the first case of Ebola, various outbreaks have occurred. Once the virus spreads to people, it can quickly transmit throughout families, healthcare settings, and other public areas. Spotting cases of Ebola early on may be the key to stopping outbreaks. “Contact tracing” is one tactic that experts use to identify people who have been exposed to someone with Ebola. It involves tracking down everyone who has come in direct contact with the sick person. These contacts are watched for signs of Ebola for 21 days from the last day they were around the infected patient. If a contact develops a fever or other classic symptoms of Ebola, they will be immediately isolated and tested for the virus. Learn More About Ebola Outbreaks
Organ failureSevere bleedingJaundiceSeizuresComaDeliriumIn many cases, the virus is harmful enough to cause death
Marburg virusMalariaTyphoid fever
Global Ebola Response Infectious Diseases Society of America Occupational Safety and Health Administration World Health Organization
