Ebola virus disease

Ebola virus disease (or EVD, formerly known as Ebola haemorrhagic fever) is a serious, often fatal disease affecting humans and primates. The virus is transmitted to humans by wild animals (e.g. fruit bats, porcupines, primates) and then spreads within the human population through direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other biological fluids of infected individuals, and with surfaces or objects (e.g. bed linen, clothing) contaminated by these fluids.