Ebola is rare, but it can be serious. If you are worried about Ebola because of recent travel, possible exposure or symptoms, it is important to know what to watch for and what to do next.
Most people in the U.S. have a very low risk of Ebola. Risk is higher if you recently traveled to an area with an Ebola outbreak or had direct contact with someone who may have Ebola. Ebola symptoms can begin suddenly and may include fever, fatigue, muscle pain, headache and sore throat, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, rash or signs of kidney or liver problems. Symptoms can appear from 2 to 21 days after exposure.
If you think you may have been exposed to Ebola, call your doctor, local health department or emergency department for guidance. Call before going to a clinic, urgent care or emergency department so the care team can prepare safely.
Ebola disease, sometimes called Ebola virus disease, is a rare but severe infection caused by a virus. It can make people very sick and may become life-threatening.
Ebola outbreaks have most often occurred in parts of Africa. In the U.S., Ebola is extremely rare and only occurs if the virus is transmitted from a human or animal from outside the country. People who recently traveled to an area with an Ebola outbreak or had close contact with someone who may have Ebola should take symptoms seriously.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with the body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola or has died from it. It does not spread through the air like the flu, a cold or COVID-19.
Call ahead before going to a clinic, urgent care or emergency department if you have symptoms and may have been exposed to Ebola. This helps protect you, other patients and the care team.
Seek emergency care right away if you have possible Ebola exposure and symptoms such as:
Call before you arrive: If you think you may have Ebola, tell the care team about your symptoms, recent travel and possible exposure before entering a health care facility.
Ebola symptoms can appear 2 to 21 days after exposure. Early symptoms may look like the flu or other common infections. As the illness gets worse, symptoms can become more serious.
Early Ebola symptoms may include:
More serious Ebola symptoms may include:
Not everyone with Ebola has bleeding. Fever, weakness, vomiting and diarrhea are often more common signs.
Ebola spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids. This can happen when the virus enters the body through broken skin or through the eyes, nose or mouth.
Body fluids that may spread Ebola include:
Ebola may also spread through contaminated needles, medical equipment or surfaces that have infected fluids on them.
Ebola may spread through:
Ebola does not spread through:
People become contagious when they develop symptoms. Ebola is not known to spread from people who do not have symptoms.
Most people in the U.S. are not at risk for Ebola. Your risk may be higher if you had a possible exposure in the past 21 days.
You may have a higher risk if you:
If you are not sure whether your travel or contact puts you at risk, call your doctor or local health department for guidance.
If you think you may have been exposed to Ebola, do not wait for symptoms to get worse. Call a health care provider, local health department or emergency department for instructions.
While you wait for guidance:
If symptoms develop after possible exposure, seek medical guidance right away.
Ebola can be hard to diagnose early because symptoms may look like the flu, COVID-19, food poisoning, malaria or other infections. Your care team will ask about your symptoms, travel history and possible exposure.
Testing usually involves blood tests sent to a specialized laboratory. Your care team may also test for other illnesses that can cause similar symptoms.
Your care team may ask:
Do not go to a lab or clinic without calling first if you think you may have Ebola.
Ebola treatment depends on the type of Ebola virus, the person’s symptoms and how sick they are. Early medical care can improve the chance of survival. Treatment often focuses on supporting the body while it fights the infection. This may include fluids, electrolytes, oxygen, blood pressure support and treatment for vomiting, diarrhea or other complications. (World Health Organization)
Treatment may include:
Some vaccines and treatments are available for certain types of Ebola virus, but not all. WHO notes that licensed Ebola vaccines are currently for disease caused by the Zaire ebolavirus species.
Ebola prevention focuses on avoiding exposure in areas where the virus is spreading and using strict infection control steps in health care settings.
You can lower your risk by:
There are vaccines for some types of Ebola, but they are not used for routine vaccination in the general U.S. population. Vaccine use depends on the type of virus, outbreak setting, exposure risk and public health guidance.
If you recently traveled internationally and feel sick, tell your care team where you went and when. This is especially important if you visited an area with a known Ebola outbreak.
Before traveling internationally:
After returning from an area with Ebola risk:
Many illnesses can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness and body aches. Ebola is rare, and these symptoms are more often caused by other conditions.
Conditions that may have similar symptoms include:
A medical evaluation is the only way to know what is causing your symptoms.
Banner Health provides coordinated care for infectious diseases, including symptom evaluation, diagnostic testing guidance, emergency care when needed and connection to specialists.
If a serious infection is suspected, our teams can help coordinate safe evaluation, public health reporting and the right level of care.
Our care teams focus on:
Call ahead if you think you may have been exposed to Ebola.
For life-threatening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Tell the dispatcher or care team about your symptoms and possible exposure before you arrive.
People with Ebola are generally not contagious until they have symptoms. Risk increases when someone is sick and has direct contact with others through body fluids.
No. Ebola is not spread through the air like the flu, a cold or COVID-19. It spreads through direct contact with infected body fluids or contaminated items.
Symptoms can appear 2 to 21 days after exposure. Early symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, muscle aches and sore throat.
Call a health care provider, emergency department or local health department for guidance. Avoid close contact with others and call before you arrive at a medical facility.
Yes, vaccines are available for certain types of Ebola virus. They are not used as routine vaccines for most people in the U.S. Vaccine recommendations depend on the type of virus, outbreak setting and exposure risk.
Yes. Ebola treatment focuses on early supportive care and may include IV fluids, oxygen, blood pressure support and care for complications. Some targeted treatments may be available for certain types of Ebola.
Call before going to urgent care, a clinic or an emergency department. The care team can tell you where to go and how to arrive safely.
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