Ebola

​ About Ebola

Ebola virus disease (Ebola) is caused by a group of viruses known as orthoebolaviruses (formerly ebolavirus). Three of these viruses cause severe illness in people, presenting as clinically similar viral hemorrhagic fever:

A fourth virus, Taï Forest virus (TAFV, Orthoebolavirus taiense) has caused a single recorded case of non-lethal human disease. Historical case fatality rates have varied significantly, the average fatality rate is approximately 50%. In outbreaks casused by Ebola virus, fatality rates have often ranged from 70–90%, though actual mortality may vary depending on outbreak conditions, timing of care, and available therapeutics. Ebola is transmitted through direct contact (via broken skin or mucous membranes) with infected bodily fluids—such as blood, vomit, urine, feces, saliva, sweat, semen, or breast milk—or with surfaces or materials contaminated with such fluids.

Ebola was first recognized in 1976 in near-simultaneous outbreaks in what are now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) and South Sudan (formerly Sudan). Since then, more than 35 documented outbreaks, the majority occurring Central and West Africa. 

As of September 2025, an outbreak of Ebola has been declared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused by re-emergence of Ebola virus in the Kasai Province. According to recent reports, the outbreak has resulted in dozens of confirmed cases and several deaths, prompting renewed containment and surveillance measures across the region​

Preparing for and Responding to Ebola Outbreaks

APHL's Role

APHL works both domestically and internationally to strengthen national laboratory systems to prepare for and respond to Ebola as well as other highly infectious disease threats. Many public health laboratories in the US can conduct testing for the Ebola using tests deployed through the Laboratory Response Network and/or using commercially available assays. APHL also collaborates with CDC and ​the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) to develop guidance, implement training and provide necessary support for laboratories outside the US to ensure they are able to perform safe, high quality and efficient testing.

Preparedness and Biosafety Resources

General:

• Laboratory Exposure Assessment and Symptom Monitoring Guide

  Use this guide to evaluate potential laboratory biological exposure events, including Ebola.
  

• Packaging and Shipping Evaluation Tool
  Use these forms to evaluate packaging and shipping procedures of Category A & B Substances and associated documentation.
  

Ebola Risk Assessments:

• Public Health Laboratory Risk Assessment Template: Ebola Vir​us Disease Testing
  Use this template to develop a risk assessment for Ebola Virus Disease testing using the FilmArray NGDS Warrior Panel.
  

• Clinical Laboratory Risk Assessment Template: Ebola Virus Disease Testing
  Clinical laboratories can use this template to develop a risk assessment for Ebola Virus Disease testing.
  

Previous APHL Ebola Response Efforts

2018 Strengthening Laboratory Response in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, APHL worked through 2018 to strengthen laboratory capacity and renovate the central laboratory. APHL-ASLM consultants developed laboratory SOPs, supported implementation of a specimen referral system and implemented quality assurance practices at mobile testing centers run by donor nations. In addition​, a unified laboratory implementation plan was developed to enable international aid workers to quickly identify how to support a single, integrated strategy for delivery of laboratory services.  

APHL also assisted ASLM and the African Public Health Laboratory Network to improve surveillance, communications, coordination and information sharing to enable quick response to emerging disease threats as well as implemeted data repositories for capacity and capability mapping of member laboratories. This also included ensuring access to specialized testing capacity made available across the network, coordinating action on new global and regional policy prioritie and collaboration for research initiatives and sharing relevant data. APHL also facilitated cross-training and assessments to raise all laboratories to standardized levels of capacity and readiness.

2014–2015 APHL Ebola Response

During the height of the Ebola response in 2014–2015, APHL provided situational updates and technical assistance to public health laboratories. The association developed a template to assist laboratories in conducting risk assessments of their facilities and other laboratory guidance documents for clinical and public health laboratories. In addition, APHL worked with state and local public health laboratories to prepare them to conduct Ebola testing and to respond to questions from clinical laboratories in their jurisdictions.

Outside the US, APHL worked with CDC and ASLM to stand up the African Public Health Laboratory Network and explore ways to build laboratory capacity on the continent. APHL facilitated a training on testing for the Ebola virus at the ASLM meeting in Cape Town in 2014 and collaborated with ASLM to develop a webpage and African Public Health Laboratories Network Listserv to share information related to the Ebola outbreak.