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Ebola
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Infections

Ebola

Ebola is a rare and often deadly hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus that spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids.

What is Ebola?

Ebola, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD), is a type of hemorrhagic fever. It is a rare and often deadly disease caused by several different types of Ebola viruses. Outbreaks occur occasionally, mostly in Africa.

How does Ebola spread?

Researchers believe the virus first spreads from an infected animal to a human. It then spreads from human to human through direct contact with:

  • Blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.
  • Objects (such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) contaminated with body fluids from a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola.
  • Semen (through oral, vaginal, or anal sex) from a man who has recovered from Ebola. The virus can remain in semen and other body fluids, even if the person no longer has symptoms.

People cannot spread Ebola to others until after they develop symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms may appear 2 to 21 days after exposure (average 8 to 10 days) and include:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Joint and muscle aches
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Sore throat
  • Gastrointestinal symptoms including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained bleeding or bruising
  • Rash, red eyes, and hiccups

Diagnosis & Treatment

Early symptoms are similar to other common diseases, making diagnosis difficult. If a person has symptoms and potential exposure, a health care provider can perform a blood test. Treatment includes:

  • Monoclonal antibodies: Two approved medicines for Zaire ebolavirus.
  • Supportive care: Fluids and electrolytes, medicines to manage blood pressure, pain, and fever, oxygen, and treatment for complications.

Prevention

There is one approved vaccine for Zaire ebolavirus, primarily for health care providers and lab workers. To protect yourself, avoid contact with blood, body fluids, contaminated items, and specific animals like bats, forest antelopes, and nonhuman primates.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Frequently Asked Questions

Monoclonal antibodies are specific medications that help the immune system recognize and fight the Ebola virus. Two approved monoclonal antibody therapies are available for treating Zaire ebolavirus, which is the most common and deadly strain. These treatments are most effective when administered early in the course of the disease and are used alongside supportive care, such as fluid replacement and management of blood pressure and pain.
Recovered men should abstain from sexual contact or use condoms for at least three months after symptom onset, or until two consecutive semen tests show no detectable virus. Women should also use barrier methods and consult their healthcare provider for specific guidance, as the virus can persist in bodily fluids like semen, breast milk, and vaginal secretions long after the patient is no longer contagious through other means.
If you believe you have been exposed to Ebola, contact your local health department or emergency services immediately. Do not go to a standard emergency room without prior notification, as this can put other patients and staff at risk. Healthcare providers need to know about the potential exposure to implement isolation protocols and begin monitoring for symptoms, which can appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure.
No, Ebola is not spread through casual contact such as shaking hands, touching a doorknob, or being in the same room as an infected person. Transmission requires direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is symptomatic or has died from the disease. The virus is not airborne, so breathing the same air does not pose a risk of infection.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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