Communicable Diseases

EBOLA VIRUS DISEASE

Ebola viruses cause severe illness called viral hemorrhagic fever that can be fatal.

Symptoms of Ebola disease develop 2 to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms can occur suddenly and include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, joint pain, and fatigue. Symptoms can quickly progress to nausea, vomiting, bloody emesis/stool, rash and bleeding.

The virus is transmitted person-to-person through contact with blood or other body fluids of a living or deceased person who has an infection, including transmission from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding and sexual transmission. Transmission also occurs through contact with surfaces contaminated with body fluids. Animal to human transmission can also occur. A person is not considered infectious prior to symptom onset.

More information on Ebola disease is available from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) website.

CURRENT RISK STATUS

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, 2026, for an Ebola disease outbreak caused by Bundibugyo virus disease (BVD) affecting the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda. The outbreak is changing quickly and more information on affected countries is available on the WHO website.

PHAC has assessed that the overall risk to the general population in Canada remains low at this time. If a person with an infection were to arrive in Canada, transmission is expected to be limited due to established public health measures, enhanced border screening measures and because the virus requires direct contact with body fluids or tissues of a person experiencing an infection.

Public Health is monitoring the outbreak in close collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada, international partners, including the World Health Organization, as well as other provincial and territorial public health authorities.

TRAVEL HEALTH ADVISORIES

If you are travelling abroad, please stay up to date with the Government of Canada’s Ebola Travel Health Advisories and border measures implemented under the Quarantine Act.

Border changes related to Ebola disease

Temporary border measures are being implemented to reduce the risk of Ebola disease entering and spreading in Canada.

Ebola disease: Travel Health Advice

RETURNING TRAVELLERS

If you are concerned about Ebola disease and have recently been in an outbreak-affected area in the last 21 days, speak to your healthcare provider or contact 811.

People who are required to quarantine and/or isolate will be contacted by public health and provided with more information.

If you become ill with symptoms of Ebola disease

Immediately isolate from others and contact the number provided by public health or 811.

Please contact public health or 811 before visiting a health facility and let them know you are in quarantine and/or isolation due to a possible exposure to Ebola. Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should contact 911 and advise of their symptoms and travel history if they have travelled to an outbreak-affected area in the last 21 days.

For more information on your nearest health facility, visit:

Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services

INFORMATION FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS