On the evening of Friday, May 16, a man showing symptoms of hemorrhagic fever—possibly Ebola or Marburg virus—was transferred from Tábor Hospital to Prague’s Bulovka University Hospital.

According to reports from iDNES.cz and Novinky.cz, the patient was placed in a sealed isolation unit and transported under strict biohazard protocols. Emergency responders from the South Bohemian Region wore full protective suits and arrived at Bulovka around 10 p.m.

The patient, a U.S. citizen born in 1984, had recently returned from the Congo and reportedly went to the hospital on his own after developing symptoms.

Speaking to the press, Eva Stolejda Liebigerová, spokesperson for Bulovka Hospital, added:

“We confirm the admission of a patient with suspected high-risk infection. Laboratory results will be available Saturday morning. For now, we cannot release more details.”

What Is Ebola?

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is one of the deadliest viral infections, classified among hemorrhagic fevers alongside Marburg virus. The disease has a mortality rate ranging from 25% to 90%, depending on the viral strain.

Ebola does not spread through the air like influenza or COVID-19. The primary transmission methods include:

• Direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person or animal—blood, saliva, vomit, urine, semen, etc.
• Contaminated objects, such as needles, bedding, or medical equipment.

Early symptoms (appear within 2–21 days of exposure):

• High fever (≥38.6°C)
• Severe fatigue, headache, muscle pain
• Sore throat, dry cough

Advanced stages:

• Vomiting, diarrhea, often with blood
• Skin rash, organ failure
• Internal and external bleeding (e.g., gums, nose)
• Multiple organ dysfunction