Prevention & Protection
Ebola is preventable with the right measures. Below are the key steps to prevent infection.
Hand hygiene
Wash hands regularly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. This is the most important individual measure.
Avoid direct contact
Avoid contact with body fluids of sick or deceased persons. Wear gloves and protective clothing when caring for patients.
Vaccination
Ervebo (rVSV-ZEBOV) provides protection against Zaire ebolavirus. It is deployed via ring vaccination around confirmed cases. Ask health authorities if you are eligible.
Early detection & isolation
Rapid diagnosis and isolation of cases is crucial to prevent spread. Contact tracing and monitoring contacts for 21 days.
Travel advice
Follow travel advice from your national health authority and WHO during outbreaks. Avoid non-essential travel to areas with active Ebola outbreaks.
Safe burials
Ebola deceased are highly infectious. Safe and dignified burial procedures by trained teams are essential.
Important to know
- • Ebola does NOT spread through the air, water or food (unless contaminated).
- • A person is only infectious when showing symptoms.
- • Recovered patients can still transmit the virus via semen for weeks.
- • The Ervebo vaccine is >97% effective against Zaire ebolavirus.
Stay updated whenever a new outbreak emerges.
Get notified the moment WHO or CDC publishes a new outbreak, case or major update.