It is basically a hemmorrhagic fever somewhat similar to the dengue.  It may cause bleeding from eyes, nose, mouth rectum and any broken skin.

 

This is how bleeding into the skin can occur

This is how ebola virus looks under electron microscope. This is a colorized version.
It can cause internal as well as external bleeding.
First around Ebola river in Zaire (Which is a part of Congo) in 1976.

First epidemic 88 percent of 318 people died. Infected by  contact of blood or body fluids. Most likely reservoir is fruit bat.

Bats carry the virus but are not affected by it. Virus is also  found in gorrillas, Chimpanzees, Antelope and porcupines. In west africa fruit bats are eaten by the native people.


Symptoms 2 to 21 days after. Appear as a flu. Headache, fever or chill, sorethroat, chest pain, joint and muscle pain.  Followed by diarrhea, seizure and coma. Lowered WBC and Platelets seen.  Liver and kidney function can be reduced. Bleeding follows. 

People should wear gloves, masks, goggles, protective clothing.
Treatment, prevent dehydration, Use antibiotics for secondary infections. 50-90 percent die once infected.
Sodium hypochlorite is very effective for disinfection. African pigfarms attract fruit bats. Male survivors can carry the virus in their blood for up to ten weeks. Containment is the most important method of controlling this deadly disease.