Have you ever wondered whether Ebola is confined to the dusty savannas of West Africa? Think again. The hemorrhagic fever known as Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been lurking on the global stage for decades, and its reach now stretches far beyond the borders of its original hotspots. In fact, between 1976 and 2016 the virus claimed more than 11,000 lives worldwide, a grim tally that underscores its deadly potential.[1] From bustling metropolises to quiet coastal towns, Ebola has left its mark in ten unexpected corners of the world. Below we dive into the surprising places where the virus has shown up, what happened, and why each story matters.
Exploring 10 Surprising Places With Ebola Cases
10 Lagos, Nigeria
During the sweltering summer of 2014, a Liberian‑American traveler touched down in Lagos, only to fall gravely ill at the airport. Within five days of his arrival, the man succumbed to the disease, and two leading infectious‑disease physicians who cared for him also lost their lives. This single case ignited an outbreak that ultimately infected 19 individuals, seven of whom died.
After a relentless 42‑day streak with no new infections, authorities declared the Lagos outbreak contained in October 2014. In early 2018, Nigeria’s civil aviation authority stepped up vigilance, instituting rigorous screening of passengers and crew arriving from Ebola‑affected nations to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
9 Gulu, Uganda
Ebola first appeared in Uganda in 2000, with subsequent flare‑ups in 2012, 2014 and 2018. The proximity of these incidents to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan suggests cross‑border transmission. In total, Gulu, a city in northern Uganda, recorded 425 confirmed Ebola cases, resulting in 224 fatalities.
Since early 2018, suspected cases have risen again in Uganda’s northern and eastern zones, driven by the resurgence of Ebola in the DRC and Sudan and the displacement of refugees fleeing conflict. Many of these patients have actually been diagnosed with Marburg disease, a viral hemorrhagic sibling of Ebola that produces similar symptoms such as internal bleeding and vomiting.
8 Mali
In 2014, a man infected with Ebola traveled from Guinea into Mali, where he later died. The contagion spread to seven additional people, resulting in six deaths overall.
Despite the grim numbers, Mali’s health authorities and international aid agencies mounted a swift response. By 2019, the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office listed Mali as a non‑essential travel destination, effectively deeming it a no‑go zone for most foreign nationals, thereby limiting further exposure.
7 Glasgow, Scotland
While on assignment in Sierra Leone in 2014, a health worker contracted Ebola and later boarded a flight to London, where a doctor at Heathrow mistakenly recorded a normal temperature despite it being elevated. The patient continued her journey home to Glasgow, where she fell seriously ill, sparking nationwide alarm. The attending physician was subsequently suspended for falsifying examination details.
After months of isolation, the patient recovered, only to experience viral resurgence in different body sites, prompting repeated hospital visits. She survived two further life‑threatening episodes, and her case now stands as one of the most complex Ebola stories recorded in the Western world.
6 Dallas, Texas, US
In 2014, a Liberian visitor to Dallas became gravely ill with Ebola and died shortly after hospitalization. Upon arrival from Liberia, he had falsified his travel paperwork, omitting crucial exposure details. Two nurses who cared for him contracted the disease, though both survived.
One of the nurses later sued the hospital’s parent company, alleging insufficient personal protective equipment and inadequate health‑safety protocols. The lawsuit culminated in a settlement, though it remains unclear whether the nurse continues to practice.
5 New York, New York, US
In October 2014, an emergency physician returned to New York after volunteering with Médecins Sans Frontières in Guinea. Within days, he experienced a high fever, went bowling with friends, and then isolated himself once symptoms worsened. He was transferred to Bellevue Hospital, placed in strict isolation, and three close contacts were also quarantined as a precaution.
After several weeks of intensive care, the doctor made a full recovery, underscoring the importance of rapid diagnosis and containment in densely populated urban settings.
4 Sardinia
In 2015, a nurse who had spent three months providing humanitarian aid in Sierra Leone returned to his home island of Sardinia. Noticing early Ebola symptoms, he self‑isolated and was subsequently transferred to a specialized quarantine facility in Rome, Italy.
Under the care of a physician experienced in treating Ebola patients, the nurse received targeted therapy and ultimately achieved full recovery, highlighting the effectiveness of early isolation and expert medical management.
3 Madrid, Spain
A Spanish nurse contracted Ebola while treating a patient—a Spanish priest who had been working in Sierra Leone and was air‑lifted to Spain for care. The nurse survived the infection, but sadly the priest later succumbed, becoming the second Spanish clergyman to die from Ebola.
This incident underscored the risks faced by frontline medical staff and the critical need for stringent infection‑control measures during trans‑continental patient transfers.
2 Cornwall, England
In 2014, a Nigerian security guard returning from a family visit was screened for Ebola in Cornwall and placed under a three‑week quarantine—a move that sparked media attention and claims of victimisation. Nigeria was declared Ebola‑free just two days after his return.
Separately, a Nigerian citizen stationed at a Cornish navy base fell ill and was initially suspected of Ebola. Testing instead revealed a rare strain of monkeypox, prompting his transfer to a London facility for appropriate care.
1 Saudi Arabia
In 2014, a 40‑year‑old businessman returned to Saudi Arabia after a trip to Sierra Leone. He soon exhibited Ebola symptoms and was immediately isolated, preventing potential spread during the annual pilgrimage season in Jeddah. He remains the only documented Ebola case to have reached Saudi Arabia.
World Health Organization experts stress that Ebola spreads through close, direct contact with infected individuals or their bodily fluids, such as blood and saliva. Health‑care workers are urged to don full personal protective equipment, follow stringent outbreak protocols, and handle deceased patients with utmost care. The virus can re‑emerge months or even years after initial treatment, reinforcing the need for ongoing vigilance.
Remember to wash your hands regularly, protect any cuts, and stay informed if you travel or work in affected regions. Key hotspots include Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, the DRC, and Uganda.
Caroline Alice is a freelance writer and English language teacher with a keen interest in health and infectious diseases. Follow her on Twitter @carolinealiceb.