Ebola is a rare but severe viral disease caused by the Ebola virus. It spreads through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, or tissues of infected people or animals. Symptoms often include fever, severe weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding. Early medical care and supportive treatment can improve survival rates. The disease was first identified near the Ebola River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1976.