How would someone know if they had the ebola virus?

They would not.: First, they would have to have been exposed in some fashion to someone with the disease. Second, they would be likely to die before they knew they had it. If they were on the road to recovery from the illness, antibody testing would help to confirm the clinical impression of the diagnosis.

Geography: You would have to have taken a trip to one of the countries in Central Africa which has the disease in active form. You would need direct exposure to a victim or the remains of a victim. The early symptoms are profound ill feeling, severe headache and weakness. Fever develops and hemorrhage is common. You will quickly lose consiousness.

Agree w Dr. Raff: Travel history can ^ level of suspicion for febrile illness. Ebola has been found in West African Countries of Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and Senegal. The initial symptoms are nonspecific- high fever, chills, sore throat, weakness, fatigue, malaise, headache, lack of appetite,low back pain & muscular /joint aching. This makes definitive dx difficult.