2014: Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo

On August 24, 2014, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health notified the World Health Organization (WHO) of an outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in Equateur Province. The index case was a pregnant woman from Ikanamongo Village who butchered a bush animal. She became ill with symptoms of EVD, reported to a private clinic in Isaka Village, and died on August 11, 2014. Local customs and rituals associated with death meant that several healthcare workers were exposed to Ebola virus. A total of 66 cases, including 38 laboratory confirmed cases, and a total of 49 deaths were reported.

On November 21, 2014, the WHO reported that 42 days had passed since the last case tested negative twice and was discharged from a hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Latest CDC Outbreak Information
Updated November 21, 2014

2014: Ebola Outbreak in West Africa

The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. Two imported cases, including one death, and two locally acquired cases in healthcare workers have been reported in the United States. CDC and partners are taking precautions to prevent the further spread of Ebola within the United States. CDC is working with other U.S. government agencies, the World Health Organization, and other domestic and international partners and has activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to help coordinate technical assistance and control activities with partners. CDC has deployed teams of public health experts to West Africa and will continue to send experts to the affected countries.

Latest CDC Outbreak Information
Updated December 15, 2014

2012: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in Uganda

As of December 2, 2012, the Uganda Ministry of Health reported 7 cumulative cases (probable and confirmed) of Ebola virus infection, including 4 deaths, in the Luwero District of central Uganda. CDC assisted the Ministry of Health in the epidemiologic and diagnostic aspects of the outbreak. Testing of samples by CDC's Viral Special Pathogens Branch took place at the Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe. Reported numbers are subject to change.

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2012: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The DRC Ministry of Health declared an end to the most recent Ebola outbreak in DRC's Province Orientale. The November 26 press release reported a final total of 77 cases, including 36 laboratory-confirmed cases, 17 probable and 24 suspect cases, with a total of 36 deaths. CDC assisted the Ministry of Health in the epidemiologic and diagnostic aspects of the investigation. Laboratory support was provided through CDC's field laboratory in Isiro, and the CDC/UVRI lab in Uganda. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) provided diagnostic support through its field lab in Isiro. The outbreak in DRC had no epidemiologic link to the near contemporaneous Ebola outbreak in the Kibaale district of Uganda. Reported numbers are subject to change.

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2012: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Outbreak in Uganda

On July 28, 2012, the Uganda Ministry of Health reported an outbreak of Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in the Kibaale District of Uganda. A total of 24 human cases (probable and confirmed only), 17 of which were fatal, were reported starting at the beginning of July. Laboratory tests of blood samples conducted by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) and CDC confirmed Ebola virus in 11 patients, four of whom died. Reported numbers are subject to change.

On October 4, 2012, the Uganda Ministry of Health declared the outbreak ended.

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2011: Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever Case in Uganda

On May 14, 2011, the Uganda Ministry of Health informed the public that a patient with suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic fever died May 6, 2011, in Luwero district, Uganda. CDC-Uganda confirmed a positive Ebola virus test result from a blood sample taken from the patient. The quick diagnosis of Ebola virus was provided by the new CDC Viral Hemorrhagic Fever laboratory installed at the Uganda Viral Research Institute (UVRI).

Experts from the CDC arrived in Entebbe to actively assist the Uganda Ministry of Health, local health officials and international organizations in disease response. There are no other known cases.

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2008: Ebola-Reston Virus Detected in Pigs in Philippines

On October 25, 2008, CDC received samples of pig tissues, sera and cell cultures from FADDL, the Foreign Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on Plum Island, New York. The samples, originally collected from pig farms outside Manila, initially were tested at the Plum Island facility, which identified multiple swine pathogens, including Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) virus and porcine circovirus type 2. Additional testing by molecular analysis also tentatively identified, for the first time in pigs, Ebola-Reston virus. Further testing of the samples at CDC’s Special Pathogens Branch and Infectious Disease Pathology Branch confirmed the presence of Ebola-Reston virus. Sequence analysis conducted at FADDL and CDC revealed the virus is similar to the Ebola-Reston virus that infected macaques from the Philippines imported into the United States for research in 1989, 1990 and 1996, and into Italy in 1992.

The clinical significance of Ebola-Reston in pigs is unknown, since many of the samples were obtained from pigs with dual PRRSV and Ebola-Reston virus infections. Epidemiologic investigations by Philippine authorities are continuing to look for evidence of human disease associated with infected pigs. Ebola-Reston virus is of unknown pathogenicity in humans. Recent studies of small numbers of Philippine slaughterhouse workers with no clinical disease revealed antibodies to Ebola-Reston virus.

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