Ebola (Ebola Disease)

About Ebola

Ebola disease (Ebola) is a serious and often deadly illness. It is found mainly in sub-Sarahan Africa. It is caused by a group of viruses, known as orthoebola viruses. Ebola most commonly affects people and nonhuman primates, such as monkeys, chimpanzees, and gorillas.  

How It Spreads

Ebola is spread from person to person through direct contact with blood or other body fluids of a person who is sick with or has died from Ebola disease. Examples of other body fluids are urine, feces, saliva, sweat, vomit, breast milk, and semen. 

This can happen when a person touches infected body fluids or contaminated objects, such as medical equipment, needles, and syringes. The virus enters the body through broken skin or through the eyes, nose, or mouth. 

Symptoms

Symptoms may appear 2–21 days after contact with the virus. They occur in two phases. Early symptoms are nonspecific and they are known as “dry” symptoms. 

Dry Symptoms: 

  • Fever 
  • Aches and pains in the muscles and joints 
  • Severe headache 
  • Weakness and fatigue 
  • Sore throat 
  • Loss of appetite 

After 4–5 days of illness, patients can develop “wet” symptoms as they get sicker. 

Wet symptoms: 

  • Unexplained bleeding 
  • Gastrointestinal Symptoms 
  • Nausea 
  • Abdominal pain 
  • Diarrhea 
  • Vomiting 

2026 Ebola Outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda

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 Bundibugyo virus. CDC has issued multiple travel notices for areas in DRC and for Uganda based on where the outbreak is occurring and the risk of getting sick.  

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.”  

Please visit CDC’s Ebola Outbreak History website for more information about current or past outbreaks.  

What VDH is Doing

  • Closely monitoring this situation and coordinating with federal, state, and local partners. 
  • Conducting public health symptom monitoring for any Virginia travelers who were 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.