Ebola

Ebola is caused by infection with an ebolavirus. This virus causes a serious illness called Ebola virus disease. It leads to severe and often fatal illness in humans and primates, such as gorillas and chimpanzees.

Ebola can only be transmitted through direct physical contact with an infected person or through slaughtering and eating an infected animal. Once infected, the risk of death is high. It is estimated that around 50% of infected people die from the disease.

The disease was named after the Ebola River in Congo, where the virus was first identified in 1976. In that year, outbreaks occurred in Sudan and in what was then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In the years that followed, Ebola caused several epidemics in different African countries.

Where does Ebola occur?

Ebola is a very rare disease, but local outbreaks still occur occasionally in Africa.

What are the symptoms?

• Headache
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat
• Extreme weakness and fatigue
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Liver damage
• Kidney damage
• Internal and external bleeding (in some cases)

How can you prevent Ebola?

Infection can occur when someone comes into direct contact with bodily fluids from infected people or animals and then touches their own mucous membranes or damaged skin. Therefore, avoid contact with blood or other bodily fluids, such as saliva and urine, from infected individuals.

Also avoid unprotected sexual contact, as the Ebola virus can remain present in semen for a long time. In addition, avoid contact with wild animals and do not eat bushmeat, meaning meat from animals that may carry the virus, such as monkeys or antelopes.

The risk for business travellers is low, even when travelling to countries where Ebola occurs. In countries experiencing an outbreak, travellers are often advised to follow additional precautions alongside general hygiene measures. People in Africa who are at increased risk of contracting the Ebola virus can now also be vaccinated, but only against certain variants of the virus. This helps reduce the spread of the virus.

More information

IWould you like to learn more about Ebola? Please visit Ebola | RIVM and LCR - Reizigersadvisering.