Ebola disease is a rare but serious and often deadly illness. The mortality rate can be as high as 80-90%, particularly without medical care. It is caused by a group of viruses within the Orthoebolavirus genus. Four of the identified species have infected humans to date (Zaire, Sudan, Taï Forest, and Bundibugyo). Orthoebolaviruses are primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa. It is not known what animal carries orthoebolaviruses in nature, but it is likely bats.

Beginning in the spring of 2026, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda reported an outbreak of Ebola disease due to Bundibugyo virus (Orthoebolavirus Bundibuygoense). Please see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Ebola Outbreak: Current Situation webpage for the most up-to-date information on this outbreak.

Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days (with an average of 8 to 10 days) after contact with the virus.

Ebola disease is a severe acute illness, usually with sudden onset of: 

• Fever 
• Aches and pains in the muscles and joints 
• Headache
• Weakness and fatigue 
• Sore throat 
• Loss of appetite
• Unexplained bleeding
• Nausea
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Abdominal pain 
• Other symptoms can include: chest pain, shortness of breath, confusion, red eyes, skin rash, hiccups, and seizures

Many common illnesses can have these same symptoms, including malaria, influenza (flu), typhoid fever, meningococcal disease, and other infections.

People can become infected with Ebola disease if their nonintact skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose or mouth) come in contact with: 

• Body fluids (including blood, urine, feces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk, and amniotic fluid) of a person who is sick with or has died of Ebola disease.
• Objects contaminated with body fluids from a person who is sick with or has died of Ebola disease (e.g., surfaces, bedding, needles, clothing, medical equipment). 
• Semen from a man who has recovered from Ebola disease.
• Contact with an infected animal, such as bats, non-human primates (e.g., chimpanzees, gorillas), or forest antelope, when hunting, handling or eating infected animals.

People can spread Ebola disease to others when they start having symptoms, but they cannot spread it before symptoms start. People sick with Ebola disease in the later stages of the illness are at highest risk of spreading it. During this time, their body contains a lot of virus. They are often vomiting, experiencing diarrhea, and possibly bleeding, which can expose others to their body fluids. Ebola is not spread through air like respiratory viruses, such as influenza (flu), and you cannot get Ebola disease from being near someone infected.

Other Risk Factors

• The chance of getting the disease is also high if you come in contact with the body of someone who has died from the disease. This can happen when you prepare the body for a funeral or burial without proper protection or if you touch a body during funeral or burial practices.
• Experiencing a breach in infection prevention and control precautions that result in the potential for contact with body fluids of a patient with suspected or confirmed Ebola disease.
• Working in a healthcare facility or laboratory that cared for suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola disease.
• Visiting a healthcare facility that cared for suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola disease or visiting a traditional healer.
• Working or spending time in a mine or cave in areas where the virus is endemic.

Ebola disease is very rare in the United States.

When living in or traveling to a region where Ebola disease is suspected or has been diagnosed, there are many ways to protect yourself and prevent the spread of the virus. 

In general, practicing good hand hygiene is an effective method of preventing the spread of dangerous germs including orthoebolaviruses. viruses. Proper hand hygiene means washing hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. 

While in an area affected by Ebola disease, it is important to avoid contact with the following: 

• Body fluids (such as blood, urine, feces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, semen, and vaginal fluids) of people who are sick
• Semen from a man who recovered Ebola disease until testing shows the virus is no longer in the semen
• Items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s body fluids (such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment)
• The body of someone is suspected or confirmed to have had Ebola disease, such as part of funeral or burial practices
• Healthcare facilities or traditional healers
• Bat, nonhuman primates, forest antelopes, and blood, fluids, or raw meat prepared from these animals or unknown animals
• Areas where bats live, such as mines or caves

Wear personal protective equipment if you come in contact with or expect to come in contact with people who are sick or have died from Ebola disease, their body fluids, or items that have come in contact with their body fluids. 

After leaving an area with an Ebola outbreak, monitor yourself for symptoms for 21 days and contact your local health department to notify them of your arrival home. The local health department may [MK1] help monitor for symptoms, and take your temperature routinely. If you develop symptoms, separate yourself from others, preferably in your own room with a separate bathroom. Call your local health department and let them know you have developed symptoms so that they can get you to a doctor safely and quickly. If you seek medical care for your symptoms, please inform the healthcare staff of your recent travel on arrival. 

In 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved ERVEBO^® for the prevention of Ebola disease caused by Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense).

In 2020, the FDA approved two monoclonal antibody drugs that treat Ebola disease caused by Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense): Inmazeb^® and Ebanga^®. There are currently no FDA-approved treatments or vaccines for other orthoebolaviruses, including Bundibugyo virus.

Recovery from Ebola disease depends on good and early supportive clinical care and the patient’s immune response. Some survivors may have long-term complications, such as aches and pains, inflammation in different tissues, eye or vision problems, hearing problems, gastrointestinal issues, and neurological issues, as well as many other complications. 

Report suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola immediately to the local health department or public health region by using the contact information provided at the link or by calling 800-705-8868. 

There are several laws in Texas (Texas Health & Safety Code, Chapters 81, 84, and 87) that require doctors, hospitals, schools, and laboratories to inform the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) if they think someone has a notifiable condition (25 Tex. Admin. Code §97.2).