Ebola disease

Are people receiving medical care in Germany?

Because of the short flight time compared to the US, the US authorities requested assistance from the Federal Government in treating a US citizen who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The patient was taken to the Isolation Ward for Patients with High Consequence Infectious Diseases at Berlin’s Charité university hospital.

The US authorities also issued a request for assistance for the family members (wife and 4 children), who had also been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and qualify as close contacts. The persons have been brought to the specialised isolation ward of Berlin’s Charité university hospital.

[Update: May 22 2026] Charité university hospital informs about Ebola patient’s state of health: First statement.

How was the patient/will the patient be transported?

The US government organised and ensured transportation from Uganda to Germany using a special aircraft for the transport of highly infectious patients.

Transportation from the airport to Charité university hospital took place in a special infection control ambulance that is specifically equipped for the transport of patients with highly infectious diseases.

The family members were taken to Charité university hospital using the same method.

Why was the patient brought to Germany?

Germany has medical expertise in the treatment of Ebola disease as well as competency in the safe implementation of medical evacuations of infected patients according to the highest safety and isolation standards. For example, three confirmed Ebola patients were already treated in Germany back in 2014. Against this backdrop and in view of the shorter flight time compared to the US, the US authorities requested assistance from the Federal Government in treating a US citizen who contracted Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Germany has a nationwide network of experts for the management and care of patients with high-consequence infectious diseases. This permanent working group of competence and treatment centres for high consequence infectious diseases (STAKOB) has already provided care to infected persons in the past.

Top-class medical care is ensured in the specialised isolation wards. The specialised isolation wards are distributed geographically (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich, Stuttgart) such that they can be reached easily by land from any place in Germany (within a drive of no more than 4 to 5 hours). There is also functioning monitoring of suspected cases.

Is there a risk to the general population if patients are being treated in Charité university hospital in Berlin?

There is absolutely no risk to the general population or to other patients at Charité university hospital. The patient is being received and treated in complete isolation at the specialised isolation ward. The unit is completely separate from the hospital’s regular operations, both spatially and organisationally. This means there is no contact with other patients.

The most stringent security standards apply also when dealing with potentially contaminated materials. The wastewater from the patient is being collected in special tanks, treated and neutralised before being returned in a controlled manner to the wastewater system. Any waste – including used PPE – is being collected separately and disposed of safely by a specialised company. Furthermore, the air is being purified by two filter systems before leaving the building.

What precautions are needed?

The patients must be kept separate in accordance with the Law on Infection Protection and treated in a suitable facility (specialised isolation ward). In the case of a justified suspicion of Ebola disease, the laboratory examination for Ebola virus can be carried out in a suitable biosafety level 3 laboratory (BSL-3 lab). If an Ebola virus infection is confirmed, the initial laboratory examination must be carried out in a biosafety level 4 laboratory (BSL-4 lab).

What is special about the specialised isolation ward at Charité university hospital?

The specialised isolation ward at Charité university hospital has a highly specialised infrastructure designed to care for patients with High Consequence Infectious Diseases and to manage medical situations with undetermined chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear contaminations, known as CBRN incidents. Designed as a self-contained and secure unit, the ward allows the safe isolation, diagnosis and treatment of up to 20 persons at a time without compromising regular hospital operations.

A major advantage of this structure is its operational independence and flexibility. The ward has its own access routes, airlock systems, ventilation and filtration systems with negative pressure technology as well as a closed wastewater treatment system. This ensures safe and secure patient care even with select pathogens or in case of the above-mentioned contamination incidents. The ward can operate flexibly at various biosafety levels – from precautions in case of unclear exposure to maximum isolation precautions using positive pressure protective suits and extended decontamination protocols.

The specialised isolation ward marries the highest safety standards with the combined medical proficiency of Charité university hospital. Not only can patients be diagnosed and monitored while in isolation, but they can also receive ICU care at the highest level, including mechanical ventilation, organ replacement procedures or dialysis as well as surgery. This makes Charité university hospital unique in managing even complex and undetermined diseases or incidents while ensuring complete biocontainment security.

Why is a specialised isolation ward so important?

Especially in times of growing risks from pandemics, biological health hazards, hybrid threats or highly critical contamination scenarios, having such a specialised infrastructure available is a key element of modern public health security. It enables swift responses, protects patients and health workers while at the same time boosting the resilience of the entire healthcare system. This structure is a particularly valuable asset to have in Germany’s capital city, making us more resilient and crisis-proof.

What type of care is the patient receiving at the Charité specialised isolation ward?

The treatment appropriate in an individual case largely depends on the patient’s state of health at the time of admission. This is why they will first be fully examined to determine the next diagnostic and therapeutic steps. The close proximity to the Robert Koch Institute, Germany’s national disease institute, is a huge advantage: The Institute’s specialised laboratory can carry out complex blood work and other special diagnostic procedures.  Precisely with highly infectious diseases, this swift and close cooperation is key.

Just a few years back, caring for Ebola patients was much more difficult. In the meantime, improved therapeutic and treatment methods have provided much better outcomes:  Mortality dropped from a baseline of about 60 percent to approx. 20 to 30 percent today. Moreover, new drugs are being developed that can improve treatment outcomes. The most vital factor, however, is to be able to provide full ICU care under the highest biosafety conditions, which markedly raises the patient’s chances of survival.

How do doctors and nurses at Charité’s specialised isolation ward work?

The specialised isolation ward is not only the largest unit of its kind in Germany, but also the only one that directly combines infectiology and intensive care. Expertise in both fields is pooled here and benefits from regular specialised training:  Staff regularly complete comprehensive follow-up training programs and additionally train specific routines and emergency scenarios twice a month.

The medical staff only enter the isolation areas wearing special PPE with an integrated air filtration system. Putting on this PPE is complex and takes about 20 minutes to complete, removing it and subsequent disposal also takes about 20 minutes. Since working under these conditions is physically exhausting, doctors and nurses can only work for strictly limited periods of time. Two to three staff at a time provide round-the-clock care for the patient directly on the ward. In addition, one or two more staff outside of the isolation ward continuously keep track of the patient’s vital signs via monitors.

How long is the incubation period for an Ebola infection?

The incubation period is between 2 and 21 days, the mean period being 6 to 10 days.

How is Ebola diagnosed?

Diagnosis is by means of molecular genetics (PCR). Serological procedures for antigen and antibody detection as well as virus isolation using cell culture can serve as confirmatory diagnosis.

When is a suspicion of Ebola disease justified?

Only persons who entered Germany from regions with Ebola cases in the last 21 days, have at least a fever or elevated temperature with symptoms consistent with Ebola AND have a contact history with persons who contracted or died from Ebola disease, their bodily fluids or (sick) wildlife are considered to be justified suspect cases of Ebola.

What would happen if an air passenger were to develop Ebola-like symptoms?

If an air passenger develops symptoms consistent with Ebola, the pilot is required by the Act Implementing the International Health Regulations (IGV-DG) to report this to the air traffic control unit; the unit then alerts the destination airport and the public health office. The competent public health office can order the aircraft to divert to an airport designated under the IGV-DG that is specially prepared to handle infectious disease threats (formerly known as “sanitary airports”). There, the patient would be isolated and interviewed by a doctor from the competent public health office. If the suspicion of Ebola infection turns out to be justified, the passenger would be taken to a specialised isolation ward for diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, close contacts of such patients (passengers seated next to the patient and persons directly taking care of them) would be registered by the public health office and instructed on further steps (especially self-monitoring for disease symptoms over the following 21 days).