When Did Ebola First Emerge in Africa? The earliest recorded outbreaks of Ebola have been shrouded in mystery.
The first reported case was in 1976, when a mysterious illness broke out in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo. At that time, scientists were unsure of the disease's source and took months to identify it.
Initial reports from local hospitals described patients suffering severe bleeding, high fevers, and organ failure. Over 300 people died in the initial outbreak.