Information from The New York City Department of Health. Ebola is a severe, often fatal disease caused by a virus. A large outbreak is now occurring in three West African countries: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. It is spread by direct contact (through broken skin or your mouth, eyes or nose) with - body fluids (such as blood, vomit, urine, feces and sweat) of a person sick with Ebola (People only become contagious after they begin to have symptoms, such as fever.) - objects soiled with the body fluids of a person sick with Ebola. - the body of a person who died from Ebola. Ebola is not spread through the air or simply by being near someone who is infected. During outbreaks, the disease can spread within health care settings if workers do not wear protective gear and take proper precautions. The current outbreak is taking place in three West African countries: Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Four cases of Ebola have been diagnosed in the U.S. The first U.S. pa