What is Ebola and are there cases in the UK?

Ebola is a rare but often deadly disease caused by a virus which attacks the body’s immune system and organs.

The virus normally infects animals, typically fruit bats, but outbreaks among humans can sometimes start when people eat or handle infected animals.

While it is a highly dangerous pathogen, it is not an airborne virus like flu or Covid.

The virus is typically spread from direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids, contaminated objects or animals.

Individuals usually only become contagious after developing symptoms.

It takes two to 21 days for symptoms to appear. They come on suddenly and start like flu or malaria with fever, headache and tiredness.

As the disease progresses, vomiting and diarrhoea develop and it can lead to organ failure. Some, but not all, patients develop internal and external bleeding.