Ebola is a rare but deadly infection that causes bleeding inside and outside the body. Although popular movies and books describe major outbreaks of ebola-like disease in the U.S., they're just works of fiction.  Ebola strikes mainly in remote villages of Central and West Africa, but it has spread to some African cities, too.  The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever or Ebola virus disease, kills up to 90% of people who are infected.

What Are the Symptoms of Ebola?

Symptoms of the Ebola virus show up 2 to 21 days after someone is infected. As the virus spreads through the body's cells, it damages the immune system and organs. Ultimately, Ebola causes levels of blood-clotting cells, called platelets, to fall, which can lead to severe bleeding.

Many of the early symptoms of Ebola look like the flu or other mild illnesses. They include:

- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Sore throat
- Weakness
- Diarrhea

As the disease gets worse, people who are infected may develop:

- Bleeding inside and outside of the body
- Rash
- Trouble breathing

How Can You Tell if Someone Has Ebola?

Sometimes it's hard to tell if a person has Ebola from the symptoms alone.

Doctors may first test for other diseases that have the same symptoms as Ebola, such as:

- Cholera
- Hepatitis
- Malaria
- Meningitis
- Typhoid fever
- Tests of the blood and tissues, such as the ELISA test, also can help diagnose Ebola.

If someone might have Ebola, they should be isolated from the public immediately to help prevent the spread of Ebola.

How Can You Prevent Ebola?

There is no vaccine to prevent Ebola. People can avoid catching the disease by not traveling to areas where the virus is found.

Health care workers can prevent infection by wearing masks, gloves, and goggles whenever they come into contact with people who may have Ebola.