Sudan ebolavirus

Reportable by Laboratories and Providers

About this Reportable Disease

Sudan Ebolavirus is a species of Ebolavirus that causes hemorrhagic fever. It is a deadly disease with occasional outbreaks that occur mostly on the African continent. Ebolavirus disease most commonly affects people and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Infection with Sudan Ebolavirus is called Sudan Virus Disease (SVD).

Outbreak in Uganda
On September 20, 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of SVD in Mubende District, in western Uganda. The end of the outbreak was declared on January 11, 2023. More information about this outbreak can be viewed on the WHO website: Ebola Uganda 2022.

Laboratory Reporting for this Disease

Ebola Virus (Sudan)

TEST NAME Ebola Virus (Sudan) 
DISEASE/DISORDER Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
ALTERNATE NAME(S)  
METHODOLOGY LRN-B Ebola Warrior Panel/ FilmArray Biofire
SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
  • PRIOR CONSULTATION REQUIRED. 
  • Requested through consultation with epidemiology only.
ORDERING INFORMATION TDH DLS Requisition:  PH-4263 Clinical Select Agent Rule-Out Submission Requisition

Specimen Requirements

Patient Preparation
  • None
Specimen Collection
  • Acceptable Specimen Sources/Type(s) for Submission:

-  Whole blood: Collect 2 EDTA (purple top) plastic blood collection tubes. 

-  Minimum volume per tube: 4mL for adult and 1mL per child
Specimen Labeling
  • Specimen must be labeled with at least two unique patient identifiers and match accompanying PH-4263 Clinical Select Agent Rule-Out Submission Requisition.
Specimen Processing
  • Contact Bioterrorism laboratory before submission
Specimen Storage and Preservation
  • Contact Bioterrorism laboratory before submission
Specimen Transport
  • CATEGORY A infectious substance -  All infectious substance shipments must conform to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR 49 C.F.R. Parts 171-180). 
Specimen Acceptability and Rejection
  • Contact Bioterrorism laboratory before submission
Testing Location
  • Nashville

Laboratory Reporting

Reporting requirements apply to all laboratories located within Tennessee, as well as laboratories outside of Tennessee that test residents of Tennessee, including laboratories located within healthcare facilities. Healthcare providers and laboratories in the same healthcare facility both have a duty to report. The type of organisms and analytes laboratories must report to TDH for 2026 are indicated, and there are several ways laboratories can report results to TDH.

Information about this Reportable Disease for Healthcare Providers

Clinical Summary

  • Sudan virus disease (SVD) is a viral hemorrhagic fever caused by Sudan ebolavirus (Orthoebolavirus sudanense). It is a severe illness with outbreaks occurring mainly in Africa.
  • Illness can begin with fever and other nonspecific symptoms (e.g., fatigue, myalgias, headache) and may progress to vomiting/diarrhea, rash, and unexplained bleeding/bruising with multi-organ involvement in severe cases.
  • Transmission occurs via direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person (or contaminated objects/materials). Strict infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are essential in healthcare settings for suspected cases.
  • Clinical approach: rapidly assess for compatible symptoms plus epidemiologic risk factors (notably recent travel/exposure related to affected regions/outbreaks), isolate immediately if suspected, and notify public health for risk assessment and testing coordination; consider other common causes of acute febrile illness in travelers (e.g., malaria) as part of the differential.
  • SVD is treated as a high-consequence infection requiring public health coordination.

Healthcare Provider Reporting

Healthcare reporting requirements apply to all providers located within Tennessee, as well as providers whose patients reside in Tennessee.

Providers must report cases of all diseases and conditions listed through one of these methods:

• Mail or fax a completed PH-1600 form to your local health department or fax to the state health office at (615) 741-3857

• Send automatically via electronic case reporting (eCR). See this TDH webpage for more information on eCR, register at the Trader Partner Registration website, or contact MU.Health@tn.gov for assistance.

• Submit online via NBS. NBS is TDH's reportable disease system. To request an NBS account for reporting Complete this user survey to request an NBS account for reporting. 

• Blood lead levels can be sent via fax ( (615) 741-3857), entered online, or reported using the instructions at this link. 

Information about this Reportable Disease for the Public

Transmission of Sudan Virus Disease (SVD)

SVD can spread through direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) of a person who is sick with or has died from the virus.

SVD can spread from blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, amniotic fluid, and semen) of a person who is sick with or has died from the virus.

SVD can spread from objects (such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment) contaminated with body fluids from a person who is sick with or has died from the virus.•  SVD can spread through semen from a man who recovered from SVD (through oral, vaginal, or anal sex).

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of SVD can be sudden and include:

  • Fever
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle pain
  • Headache
  • Sore throat
    Followed by: 
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Rash
  • Impaired kidney and liver function

In some cases, both internal and external bleeding can occur. For example, blood oozing from the gums or blood in the patient's stool.

Laboratory findings include low white blood cell and platelet counts, and elevated liver enzymes.

This Page Last Updated: March 25, 2026 at 8:59 PM