The signs and symptoms of EVD appear 2-21 days after exposure, with the average being 8-10 days. A person with EVD cannot spread the disease until signs/symptoms appear. The signs/symptoms develop over the course of several days, becoming increasingly more severe. The signs/symptoms of EVD include:
- Fever
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Severe fatigue
- Vomiting and diarrhea after 3-6 days
- Weakness, that can be severe
- Stomach pain
- Unexplained bleeding (internal and/or external) or bruising
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that later EVD signs/symptoms (3-6 days after exposure) can also include a rash and signs/symptoms of impaired kidney and liver function.
In contrast, the signs and symptoms of influenza viruses develop rapidly and appear all at the same time. People usually become ill within 2 days of exposure, experiencing all or some of these flu signs/symptoms:
- Fever
- Muscle/body aches
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Sore throat
- Runny/stuffy nose
The PDFs that are attached to this page are courtesy of the CDC. They discuss signs and symptoms of Ebola and some of the characteristics that distinguish this virus from flu viruses.
