Ebola (Ebola Disease)

Ebola disease is a rare and often deadly illness. It is caused by a group of viruses, known as orthoebolaviruses. Ebola disease most commonly affects people and nonhuman primates, such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas.  

The viruses that can cause Ebola spread from person to person through direct contact with blood or body fluids (urine, feces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola disease. This can happen when a person touches the infected body fluids or objects that have come into contact with those body fluids, such as medical equipment, needles, and syringes. The virus enters the body through broken skin or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. 

On May 17, 2026 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) for an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. This outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus. A public health emergency of international concern is defined as “an extraordinary event that is determined to constitute a public health risk to other states through the international spread of disease and to potentially require a coordinated international response.” CDC has issued travel notices for the DRC and Uganda. Please visit CDC’s Ebola Outbreak History website for a list of any current or past outbreaks.  

What VDH is Doing 

• VDH is closely monitoring this situation and coordinating with federal, state, and local partners. 
• Conducting public health symptom monitoring for any Virginia travelers who were exposed in DRC or Uganda for the duration of the incubation period, which is 21 days after their last potential exposure. 
• Sharing information, coordinating, and planning with healthcare partners so that anyone who develops symptoms while under monitoring can be quickly isolated and evaluated by healthcare providers. 
• Coordinating with laboratory partners to make sure that potentially exposed people can be tested quickly if they become ill. 
• Sharing information with the public about the situation. 

To protect privacy, VDH will not publicly share more details about any exposed people. Information about this outbreak is changing quickly. VDH will update this website as we learn new information. 

A list of Ebola resources for the public and for healthcare providers can be found below.