There is a rumor that there is an Ebola outbreak at the Burning Man festival.
- Ebola “epidemic outbreaks” in Africa have killed nearly 15,000 people since 1976.
- A false rumor claims that an Ebola outbreak began at the Burning Man festival.
- Ebola virus disease is a severe acute viral disease.
Following heavy rains that turned the Burning Man festival into a torrent of mud, a deluge of misinformation claiming an Ebola outbreak broke out at the event caused a wave of panic among Americans stranded in the desert.
Ebola outbreak at Burning Man festival: origin of the rumor
The wild rumor originated in a widely shared post on had been confirmed in Black Rock City, Nevada.
“I can confirm that the entrance to the event was closed for the year due to unusual rain which caused muddy conditions and not due to an Ebola outbreak”indicated the festival organizers.
The Ebola virus is very present in East Africa, Central Africa and West Africa. In the past, this disease has appeared in countries outside equatorial Africa, but it is always very occasional and following travel by infected people – usually health professionals and aid workers – from of the affected area.
Ebola, a severe acute viral disease that causes epidemics
Remember that Ebola virus disease is a severe acute viral illness with a very variable incubation period (from 3 to 21 days).
The first symptoms of the disease are “pseudo flu” : sudden onset of fever above 38°C, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, nausea, throat irritation. There are also more specific symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, skin rashes, kidney and liver damage and, in some cases, internal and external bleeding. “The diagnosis is only confirmed by laboratory tests”, specifies the Pasteur Institute.
According to official data from the World Health Organization (WHO), “epidemic outbreaks” of Ebola in Africa have killed nearly 15,000 people since 1976.