Ebola outbreaks primarily occur in Central and West African countries, with major past outbreaks in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, Sudan, Gabon, and Republic of Congo, while occasional cases have appeared elsewhere (like Nigeria, Mali, USA, Spain) due to travel. The virus is endemic to some African nations, meaning sporadic cases can emerge, posing ongoing risk mainly to healthcare workers and close contacts, but the risk to travelers is generally minimal.
Ebola disease was first identified in 1976 after an outbreak in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. Since then, these viruses have emerged periodically from the unknown animal that carries them and infected people in several African countries.
Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo
On September 1, 2025, CDC received reports from in-country sources regarding suspect cases of viral hemorrhagic fever from the Bulape Health Zone (HZ) and the Mweka HZ in the Kasai Province of the DRC.
There are currently two monoclonal antibodies that are FDA approved to treat the Ebola Zaire strain, but more are being developed for other strains of the virus, including the Ebola Sudan strain.
Rabies virus has a characteristic bullet-shaped virion structure. Rabies virus infection in mammals is nearly 100% fatal if left untreated.
He died on Dec. 6, 2013, at age 2, and the domino effect of his illness has spiraled into the outbreak currently ravaging three nations in West Africa. His name was Emile Ouamouno. Emile's 3-year-old sister, his mother and his grandmother all died by January, leaving his father behind.
Ebola virus is among the most dangerous, contagious and deadly etiological causes of viral diseases. However, Ebola virus has never extensively spread in human population and never have led to a pandemic.
Latest numbers as of 3 July 2020
Total of 3481 cases (3323 confirmed, 158 probable). Of these, 2299 people died and 1162 survived.
The Ebola virus epidemic burst in West Africa in late 2013, started in Guinea, reached in a few months an alarming diffusion, actually involving several countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali).
Research suggests that fruit bats are most likely the original hosts of the Ebola virus. Other animals that have been infected include chimpanzees, gorillas, monkeys, forest antelope and porcupines.
The main cutaneous finding of Ebola is a nonspecific maculopapular rash that appears between day four and six of disease. Patients have "ghost-like" features, and the rash initially presents on the upper arms, flexor forearms, and upper legs, sometimes in a centripetal fashion.
Liberia is the first of the three main countries affected by Ebola to be free of the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today (9 May), marking the end of the 15-month-long epidemic in the country.
Most confirmed cases were reported from the DRC , Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Sudan and Uganda.
Advances in treatment mean more people are surviving Ebola disease. Sometimes people who survive Ebola disease can spread the virus even after their symptoms go away. This happens when the virus remains in certain parts of the body that are shielded from the immune system.
Ebola is a rare but severe hemorrhagic fever that can cause serious illness and death in up to 9 in 10 people infected. Currently, there are no cases of Ebola reported outside of the DRC, and the risk to people in the United States is low.
Ebola has a mortality rate of 25–90% depending on treatment, and averages a mortality rate of approximately 50%. Death is often due to shock from fluid loss, and typically occurs between 6 and 16 days after the first symptoms appear.
The outbreak initially involved nosocomial transmission and a high-transmission funeral gathering, with high mortality among young children. As of 12 October 2025, a total of 572 contacts were followed up. On 1 December 2025, the Ministry of Health declared the end of the outbreak.
Ebola is a serious disease with a high fatality rate. Unfortunately, there are no available medications to cure Ebola, and there is no vaccine or medicine to prevent Ebola.
The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19 illness surpassed a grim milestone in early July. The number of deaths from Covid-19 in Africa—more than 11,950—exceeded the total number of people who died during the largest-ever Ebola outbreak in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization.
Ebola virus disease: Democratic Republic of the Congo
As of Sept 14, 2025, 35 confirmed cases have been reported, including 16 deaths (case-fatality rate 45·7%).
Marburg virus disease. Marburg hemorrhagic fever is a severe and highly fatal disease caused by a virus from the same family as the one that causes Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Both diseases are rare, but can cause dramatic outbreaks with high fatality.
93 Days, directed by Steve Gukas, is a 2016 Nigerian film inspired by the real-life events of Patrick Sawyer, a Liberian-American lawyer who arrived in Lagos on July 20, 2014. Sawyer, already in a sickly state, had travelled to Nigeria to represent the Liberian government in a conference.
Symptoms of Ebola include: fever, headache, joint and muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, lack of appetite and abnormal bleeding. These symptoms are not specific to Ebola and are often seen with other illnesses.