Ebola is a severe viral disease transmitted through direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids.
The World Health Organisation estimates it is fatal in around half of cases on average, although mortality rates vary between outbreaks.
Its early symptoms — fever, headache and fatigue — closely resemble those of malaria or influenza, making swift identification challenging. These can appear anywhere between two and 21 days after exposure.
As the illness advances, patients may suffer vomiting and diarrhoea, which can ultimately lead to organ failure.
