The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that Ebola symptoms tend to come on suddenly and can deteriorate quickly without early medical intervention.

The disease, caused by the Ebola virus, passes from person to person through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or surfaces that have been contaminated.

In the early stages, the signs can resemble a severe flu, high fever, intense headaches, muscle aches, joint pain, sore throat, and a general sense of weakness and fatigue.
Loss of appetite is also common during this initial phase.

As the illness advances, the symptoms become significantly more serious.

Patients may begin experiencing vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding or bruising.

In more severe cases, the virus can cause internal bleeding, bleeding from the gums, and the presence of blood in stool or vomit.

WHO advises anyone displaying these symptoms, particularly those who have recently been in contact with a suspected Ebola case, to seek medical attention without delay.

Early diagnosis, prompt isolation, and supportive care have been shown to considerably improve a patient’s chances of survival while also reducing the risk of the virus spreading further.

The warning comes as WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed on Friday, May 22, 2026, that the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been upgraded to a very high national risk, with nearly 750 suspected cases and 177 suspected deaths now recorded in the country.

“The Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is spreading rapidly,” Tedros said.