Questions and answers about the current outbreak

Last updated 23 May 2026

What is Ebola disease?

Ebola disease is a rare but severe disease caused by viruses of the genus Orthoebolavirus. It occurs in countries in Africa and can often lead to death, although severity varies depending on the virus species.

Transmission usually occurs from person to person through direct contact with blood and other bodily fluids.

The first documented outbreak of Ebola disease was reported in 1976 in the area what is now in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What are the symptoms of Ebola disease?

In most cases, an infected person experiences:

• sudden onset of fever;
• weakness, muscle and joint pains;
• headache.

This is followed by:

• progressive weakness;
• lack of appetite;
• diarrhoea (sometimes containing blood and mucus);
• nausea and vomiting.

The initial symptoms are unspecific and similar to more common diseases, such as the common cold and malaria. The next stage is more severe, with bleeding from the nose, gums and skin, and bloody vomiting and stools.

Other symptoms include skin rash, inflamed throat and difficulty swallowing. It can take between two and 21 days from the point of infection for a person to begin to show symptoms.

What is the current situation? 

For the latest figures, check ECDC’s page about this outbreak. 

What is the risk for people from Europe living in, or travelling to, affected areas?

Although information about the current outbreak is still limited, the likelihood of infection for people from Europe travelling to or living in affected areas is low, provided they follow recommended precautions. Ebola disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of people or animals with the infection (living or dead). (e This type of exposure is unlikely for most travellers or expatriates living in the affected areas.

Healthcare workers and humanitarian staff working directly with patients or local communities in affected areas are more likely to be exposed to the virus. However, if appropriate infection prevention and control measures are followed, the risk for these groups is also considered low.

What is the risk for people living in Europe?

The overall risk for the general population in Europe is currently very low. Ebola disease spreads through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of people or animals with the infection (living or dead) and cannot be transmitted through other types of close contact.

Could Ebola cases be imported into Europe?

The most likely way the virus could reach Europe would be through people with an infection travelling from affected areas to the EU/EEA. However, based on experience from the Ebola outbreak in West Africa between 2013 and 2016 – the largest outbreak to date – imported cases into Europe are expected to be very rare. During that outbreak, despite tens of thousands of cases and large international deployments to affected countries, only a small number of cases were reported in Europe, most of which were those who had been medically evacuated for treatment.

In the unlikely event that imported cases are identified in Europe, they would be rapidly isolated and managed using established infection prevention and control measures, making wider transmission within Europe improbable.

Is this outbreak concerning? 

Yes, despite the low risk of infection for people in Europe at present there are several reasons for concern. The outbreak appears to have been detected relatively late, given the already high number of reported cases and deaths. This suggests that transmission may have been ongoing for some time and that the actual number of cases and the geographical extent of the outbreak could be higher than currently reported.

The outbreak is also affecting remote and difficult-to-access areas, which can complicate outbreak investigation and response activities. In addition, the outbreak is caused by Bundibugyo virus, for which there are currently no licensed vaccines or specific treatments available.

How deadly is Ebola?

The proportion of people who die from Ebola disease varies depending on the virus species, the outbreak situation, and access to medical care. In previous outbreaks caused by Bundibugyo virus, around 30% to 50% of reported patients died from the disease. Outbreaks caused by Zaire ebolavirus have generally had higher death rates.

What are ECDC’s key recommendations for travellers from the affected countries?

Exit screening in affected countries, including symptom checks and exposure assessment, is crucial as it contributes to risk reduction by identifying symptomatic travellers before boarding and preventing travel while symptomatic.

Exit screening also helps dissuade ill people from travelling and enhance public and stakeholder confidence. However, it cannot fully prevent exportation of cases, because absence of symptoms at departure does not exclude subsequent onset of disease.

What should travellers do if they develop symptoms during travel or after returning from affected areas?

Travellers returning from affected areas should seek medical care promptly if symptoms develop within 21 days after return, while informing healthcare providers about their travel history and possible exposure.

If a traveller develops symptoms compatible with Ebola disease during a commercial flight, the person should be assessed upon arrival and managed appropriately. If infection is confirmed, contact tracing of relevant passengers would be initiated.

Can people transmit the virus before symptoms appear?

People with Ebola disease are generally not contagious before symptoms appear. The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or other bodily fluids of a person or animal with the infection, or from when a person first becomes symptomatic.

This is one of the reasons why identifying individuals who are symptomatic isolating suspected and confirmed cases, and applying infection prevention and control measures are effective tools to reduce transmission.

Is there a vaccine or treatment available for Bundibugyo virus disease?

There is currently no licensed vaccine or specific treatment available for Bundibugyo virus disease. One vaccine is licensed in the EU/EEA against Ebola disease caused by Zaire ebolavirus, but there is currently no scientific evidence that it would protect against Bundibugyo virus.

There are currently no specific treatments available for Bundibugyo virus disease. At present, treatment mainly consists of supportive medical care, including hydration, management of symptoms, and careful infection prevention and control measures. Research on treatments and vaccines against Bundibugyo virus disease is ongoing.

How can I protect myself against Ebola disease?

People travelling to or living in affected countries should take the following measures:

• avoid contact with people who are symptomatic and/or their bodily fluids;
• avoid contact with bodies and/or the bodily fluids from those who are deceased;
• avoid contact with wild animals (including monkeys, forest antelopes, rodents and bats), both alive and dead, and the consumption of ‘bush meat’;
• wash hands regularly, using soap or antiseptics.

What are ECDC’s key recommendations to EU/EEA countries?

For now, ECDC recommends that EU/EEA countries strengthen preparedness measures for the possible detection of imported cases. This includes being able to rapidly identify and isolate suspected and confirmed cases, carry out contact tracing, and apply appropriate infection prevention and control measures.

ECDC also recommends increasing awareness among travellers and healthcare professionals, reviewing testing capacity and diagnostic procedures, and ensuring that healthcare settings have appropriate procedures, trained staff, and equipment for the safe management of suspected and confirmed cases.

How is ECDC responding to the outbreak?

• ECDC published an urgent threat assessment, assessing the risk for the EU/EEA and providing public health recommendations for preparedness, infection prevention and control, testing, screening of travellers, and the management of suspected and confirmed cases.
• ECDC has deployed an expert through the EU Health Task Force to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) headquarters in Addis Ababa to support coordination and operational planning. In parallel, ECDC is in discussions with the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) and the Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) regarding the deployment of additional experts to support response activities in DRC and Uganda.
• ECDC works closely with the European Union Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Emerging, Rodent-borne and Zoonotic Viral Pathogens (EURL-PH-ERZV) to support EU/EEA national reference laboratories through diagnostic services for Bundibugyo virus infection, biosafety advice on the handling and inactivation of samples, and technical support for diagnostic procedures.

How can an outbreak be stopped?

An outbreak of Ebola disease is stopped by breaking the chains of transmission. This can be done by isolating patients who are suspected or confirmed as having the disease to prevent onward transmission. People who have been in close contact with patients are also contacted and monitored to identify possible infections.

Where do ebolaviruses come from?

Ebolaviruses are thought to circulate in wild animals in sub-Saharan Africa. They have been found in fruit bats, chimpanzees, gorillas and duikers, and human infections have been linked to direct contact with such animals.