Overview
Ebola hemorrhagic fever, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD), is a severe and often deadly illness caused by infection with the Ebola virus. The virus belongs to the family Filoviridae and spreads to people through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals (such as fruit bats or primates) or other infected people. Once the virus enters the body, it attacks the immune system and damages blood vessels, which can lead to widespread internal and external bleeding. Symptoms usually begin suddenly, 2 to 21 days after exposure, and start with fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and extreme tiredness. As the disease progresses, patients may develop vomiting, diarrhea, rash, and in severe cases, bleeding from the gums, nose, or other sites. The virus can cause multiple organ failure and shock, which can be fatal. The case fatality rate has varied between 25% and 90% in past outbreaks, depending on the virus species and the quality of medical care available. Treatment has improved significantly in recent years. Two monoclonal antibody treatments — Inmazeb (atoltivimab, maftivimab, and odesivimab) and Ebanga (ansuvimab) — have been approved by the FDA for treating Ebola caused by the Zaire ebolavirus species. Supportive care, including intravenous fluids, maintaining blood pressure, and treating secondary infections, remains essential. A vaccine called Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) is also available to help prevent infection in people at risk during outbreaks.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
High feverSevere headacheMuscle and joint painExtreme fatigue and weaknessSore throatLoss of appetiteNausea and vomitingSevere diarrheaAbdominal painUnexplained bleeding or bruisingBleeding from gums or noseBlood in stool or vomitSkin rashRed eyesChest pain and difficulty breathing
Clinical phenotype terms (29)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases — PHASE2
ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases — PHASE3
Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf — PHASE3
Albert B. Sabin Vaccine Institute — PHASE2
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Belgium — PHASE3
University of Birmingham — PHASE4
EBANGA®: FDA approved
treatment of infection caused by Zaire ebolavirus in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates born to a mother who is RT-PCR positive for Zaire ebolavirus infection
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
1 availableEBANGA�
treatment of infection caused by Zaire ebolavirus in adult and pediatric patients, including neonates born to a mother who is RT-PCR positive for Zaire ebolavirus infection
Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Financial Resources
1 resourcesInmazeb
Regeneron
Ebola Virus Disease
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
Community
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Start the conversation →Latest news about Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: Safety and Immunogenicity of Ervebo® and Zabdeno® Booster Vaccines Against Ebola Virus Following Previous Vaccination with the Zabdeno/Mvabea® or Ervebo® Vaccine Schedules in DRC
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Ebola hemorrhagic fever
New recruiting trial: REVIVE (Response to the Ebola Virus Vaccine)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.What specific Ebola virus species am I infected with, and does that affect my treatment options?,Am I eligible for Inmazeb or Ebanga treatment, and how soon can it be started?,What signs should my family watch for that would mean I need emergency care?,How can my family and close contacts protect themselves from infection?,What long-term health effects should I expect after recovery?,How long after recovery might I still be able to spread the virus to others?,What follow-up care and monitoring will I need after I leave the hospital?
Common questions about Ebola hemorrhagic fever
What is Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
Ebola hemorrhagic fever, also known as Ebola virus disease (EVD), is a severe and often deadly illness caused by infection with the Ebola virus. The virus belongs to the family Filoviridae and spreads to people through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected animals (such as fruit bats or primates) or other infected people. Once the virus enters the body, it attacks the immune system and damages blood vessels, which can lead to widespread internal and external bleeding. Symptoms usually begin suddenly, 2 to 21 days after exposure, and start with fever, severe headac
How is Ebola hemorrhagic fever inherited?
Ebola hemorrhagic fever follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Are there clinical trials for Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
Yes — 4 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Ebola hemorrhagic fever on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
25 specialists and care centers treating Ebola hemorrhagic fever are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.
What treatment and support options exist for Ebola hemorrhagic fever?
2 patient support programs are currently tracked on UniteRare for Ebola hemorrhagic fever. See the treatments and support programs sections for copay assistance, eligibility, and contact details.