02/24/2026 Public Health Education Topic: Ebola

Per CDC

Key points

• Ebola disease is caused by an infection with an orthoebolavirus.

• Orthoebolaviruses are found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.

• Orthoebolaviruses can cause serious and often deadly disease, with a mortality rate as high as 80 to 90 percent.

• There is an FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense).

Types

There are four orthoebolaviruses that cause illness in people:

• Ebola virus (species Orthoebolavirus zairense) causes Ebola virus disease.

• Sudan virus (species Orthoebolavirus sudanense) causes Sudan virus disease.

• Taï Forest virus (species Orthoebolavirus taiense) causes Taï Forest virus disease.

• Bundibugyo virus (species Orthoebolavirus bundibugyoense) causes Bundibugyo virus disease.

Some orthoebolaviruses do not cause illness in people.

Reston virus (species Orthoebolavirus restonense) can cause illness in nonhuman primates and pigs. Bombali virus (species Orthoebolavirus bombaliense) was identified in bats, but scientists don't know if it causes illness in animals or people.

Signs and symptoms

People with Ebola disease may experience "dry" symptoms early in the course of illness. These symptoms may include fever, aches, pains, and fatigue. As the person becomes sicker, the illness typically progresses to "wet" symptoms and may include diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding.

Keep Reading: Signs and Symptoms of Ebola Disease

How it spreads

People can get Ebola disease through contact with the body fluids of an infected sick or dead person. Rarely, some people can get the disease from contact with an infected animal, like a bat or primate.

Keep Reading: How Ebola Disease Spreads

To learn more visit: Ebola Disease Basics | Ebola | CDC