11 FAQs about the Ebola virus

1. What is Ebola?

Ebola virus disease (EVD), formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever, is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.

2. How is it transmitted?

The virus is transmitted to people from wild animals and spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission.

3. If a patient contracts the virus, how likely is it that they will die?

The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.

4. Where did the first outbreaks of the deadly virus originate from?

The first EVD outbreaks occurred in remote villages in Central Africa, near tropical rainforests, but the most recent outbreak in west Africa has involved major urban as well as rural areas.

5. What is the best way to control the virus?

Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks.

Good outbreak control relies on applying a package of interventions, namely case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilisation.

6. But what about treatment of the virus?

Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival.

There is as yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralise the virus but a range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development

7. What vaccines are currently available?

There are currently no licensed Ebola vaccines but two potential candidates are undergoing evaluation.

8. Is it spread from sneezing, coughing or insect bites?

Ebola spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people.

9. What are bodily fluids?

People remain infectious as long as their blood and body fluids, including semen and breast milk, contain the virus.

Men who have recovered from the disease can still transmit the virus through their semen for up to seven weeks after recovery from illness.

10. What about infection from dirty conditions?

Possible if bodily fluids remain on surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with bodily fluids from an infected person.

11. Where can I find out more more about Ebola?

The World Health Organisation's Ebola virus disease facts page.