Guidance

Ebola: overview, history, origins and transmission

The history of Ebola virus disease, animal reservoirs, routes of transmission and an overview of diagnosis and management.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 15 April 2014
• Last updated: 12 January 2023 — See all updates

Documents

Ebola: overview, history, origins and transmission

HTML

Details

Ebola virus emerged in 1976 in almost simultaneous outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Sudan (now South Sudan). Since then outbreaks have occurred in both Central and West Africa.

See information about current Ebola outbreaks.

Published 15 April 2014
Last updated 12 January 2023 + show all updates

1. 12 January 2023

   Update to reflect end of outbreak in Uganda.

2. 7 November 2022

   Updated with latest available information.

3. 18 March 2021

   Removed text on the most recent EVD outbreak.

4. 11 August 2020

   Updated table of Ebola outbreaks.

5. 29 July 2019

   Updated with current epidemiology.

6. 15 December 2017

   Updated table of outbreaks.

7. 19 August 2016

   Updated to reflect the current situation.

8. 17 July 2015

   Updated with information about West Africa outbreak.

9. 29 January 2015

   The map showing Ebola cases in Africa has been updated to the end of 2014.

10. 27 October 2014

    Updated information about transmission and incubation period.

11. 24 October 2014

    Updated account of historic outbreaks.

12. 15 April 2014

    First published.