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Ebola Disease Basics

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Key points

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  • Ebola disease is caused by an infection with an orthoebolavirus.
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  • Orthoebolaviruses are found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
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  • Orthoebolaviruses can cause serious and often deadly disease, with a mortality rate as high as 80-90%.
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  • Ebola does NOT spread the same way as respiratory viruses like flu and COVID. You cannot get it from being near someone.
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What it is

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Current Ebola outbreak

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\n View updates on the current Ebola outbreak \n here. \n
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Ebola disease is caused by a group of viruses, known as orthoebolaviruses (formerly ebolavirus)1. These viruses can cause serious illness that, without treatment, can cause death. Orthoebolaviruses were discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and are found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.

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Healthcare providers

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\n Review guidance on emergency services, screening, testing, infection control and PPE for viral hemorrhagic fevers, like Ebola disease. \n \n
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Types

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There are 4 types of orthoebolaviruses that cause illness in people:

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  • Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense) causes Ebola virus disease.
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  • Sudan virus (species Orthoebolavirus sudanense) causes Sudan virus disease.
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  • Ta\u00ef Forest virus (species Orthoebolavirus taiense) causes Ta\u00ef Forest virus disease.
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  • Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) causes Bundibugyo virus disease.
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Two other types of orthoebolaviruses have not affected people to date:

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  • Reston virus (species Orthoebolavirus restonense) has caused disease in non-human primates like macaques.
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  • Bombali virus (species Orthoebolavirus bombaliense) was more recently identified in bats.
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Signs and symptoms

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Someone with Ebola disease may start getting sick 2 to 21 days after contact with an orthoebolavirus. However, on average, symptoms begin 8 to 10 days after exposure.

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People with Ebola disease may experience \"dry\" symptoms early in the course of illness. These symptoms may include fever, aches, pains, and fatigue. As the person becomes sicker, the illness typically progresses to \"wet\" symptoms and may include diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.

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\n Keep Reading \n Signs and Symptoms of Ebola Disease \n
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Risk factors

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Healthcare providers and family members caring for someone with Ebola disease without proper infection control methods have the highest risk of infection.

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The viruses that cause Ebola disease pose little risk to travelers or the general public.

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\n Download \n
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\n \"Ebola \n
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\n Ebola disease is very different from COVID-19. \n
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How it spreads

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People can get Ebola disease through contact with the body fluids of an infected sick or dead person. A person is only contagious once they begin showing symptoms of the disease. You cannot get Ebola from simply being near someone or passing them in public spaces because it doesn't spread through the air.

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Rarely, some people can get the disease from contact with an infected animal, like a bat or non-human primate.

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Ebola does NOT spread the same way as respiratory viruses like flu and COVID. You cannot get it from being near someone.

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\n Keep Reading \n How Ebola Disease Spreads \n
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Prevention

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If you live in or are traveling to regions where Ebola disease has been diagnosed or is suspected, take steps to protect yourself.

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Avoid contact with body fluids

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Avoid contact with body fluids, including:

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  • Blood, urine, feces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, semen, and vaginal fluid from people who are sick
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  • Semen from someone who has recovered from Ebola disease until testing shows that the virus is no longer in the semen
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Also, avoid contact with:

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  • Clothes, bedding, needles, medical equipment, or other items that may have touched an infected person's blood or body fluids
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  • The body of someone who is suspected or confirmed to have had Ebola disease (for instance, as part of a funeral or burial practices)
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  • Bats, forest antelopes, primates, and blood, fluids, or raw meat from these or unknown animals
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Wear personal protective equipment

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Wear personal protective equipment if you come in contact with people who are sick or have died from Ebola disease, their blood and body fluids, or objects covered with their blood or body fluids.

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Monitor your health

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If you return from an area with an ongoing Ebola outbreak, monitor your health for 21 days. Seek medical care immediately if you develop symptoms of Ebola disease.

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Ebola vaccine

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\n The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved ERVEBO\u00ae for the prevention of Ebola disease in species \n Orthoebolavirus zairense only. Vaccination is recommended for U.S. adults 18 years and older who are at potential risk of exposure to the Ebola virus. \n \n
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Testing and diagnosis

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Healthcare providers order polymerase chain reaction (PCR) blood testing to diagnose Ebola disease in people who are alive. They can also do blood testing for orthoebolavirus antibodies to see if the patient recently had Ebola disease.

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Someone being tested for Ebola disease should be separated from other people in a healthcare facility until results are confirmed.

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\n For Health Care Providers \n Clinical Guidance for Ebola Disease \n
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Treatment

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Two FDA-approved treatments2 are currently available to treat Ebola disease only in the Orthoebolavirus zairense species: Inmazeb\u2122 and Ebanga\u2122.

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Supportive care

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Patients have a much better chance of surviving if they receive:

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  • Fluids and electrolytes (body salts) by mouth or into their veins.
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  • Medicine to support blood pressure, reduce vomiting and diarrhea, and to manage fever and pain.
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  • Treatment for other infections, if they occur.
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\n National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID) \n
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\n About This Page \n
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\n Published: May 15, 2024 \n
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\n Updated: June 2, 2026 \n

This page was last updated on this date. Updates may include minor edits, image changes, or other modifications to page content.

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\n Reviewed: May 21, 2026 \n

The information on this page was last reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy.

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  • 1 In an effort to decrease confusion of genus, species, and virus names, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) changed the genus name Ebolavirus to Orthoebolavirus. Genus: Orthoebolavirus | ICTV
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  • 2 Disclaimer: The mention of any product names or non-United States Government entities on CDC Ebola websites is not meant to serve as an official endorsement of any such product or entity by the CDC, the Department of Health and Human Service, or the United States Government.
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Syndicated Content Details:
Source URL: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html
Source Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Captured Date: 2016-05-23 22:44:54.0
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