Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe, often fatal illness caused by Ebola viruses — a family of filoviruses. It causes haemorrhagic fever with case fatality rates ranging from 25% to 90%, depending on the species and the quality of medical care.

Through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids, or tissues of infected people or animals. Common routes include caring for sick patients without proper PPE, touching contaminated surfaces, unsafe burial practices, and handling infected bushmeat.

No. Ebola is not transmitted through the air, water, or food. It requires direct contact with bodily fluids. This is a critical distinction — it means the virus can be contained with proper infection control measures.

Early symptoms (2–21 days after exposure): sudden fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache, sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. Symptoms can appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure.

The average case fatality rate is around 50%, but it has varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks. Zaire ebolavirus is the most lethal species. Early supportive care — IV fluids, electrolyte management — significantly improves survival.

Yes. The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine (Ervebo) is approved and has been used successfully in outbreak response since 2018. A second vaccine regimen (Zabdeno/Mvabea) is also approved in Europe. Both target Zaire ebolavirus.

Two monoclonal antibody treatments — Inmazeb (atoltivimab/maftivimab/odesivimab) and Ebanga (ansuvimab) — were approved by the FDA in 2020. Combined with aggressive supportive care, survival rates have improved dramatically.

Primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, with most outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Uganda. The 2014–2016 West Africa epidemic was the largest in history, with over 28,000 cases.

Fruit bats (family Pteropodidae) are the suspected natural reservoir. The virus also infects and kills non-human primates (chimpanzees, gorillas), forest antelopes, and porcupines. Domestic animals are not known to carry or transmit the virus.

Ebola can persist in immune-privileged sites (eyes, testes, central nervous system) for months after recovery. Sexual transmission from male survivors has been documented up to 500 days post-recovery. Survivors are advised to practice safe sex until cleared.

RT-PCR to detect viral RNA is the gold standard, usually available within hours at reference labs. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are used for initial screening in field settings. Antigen and antibody (IgM/IgG) tests are also available.

Verified sources only: WHO Disease Outbreak News, CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Africa CDC, and official national health ministry releases. ProMED-mail and news articles are shown separately as unverified signals.