Before symptoms break out, are you generally aware that you have been exposed to a disease?
Ebola can mimic many other diseases in the early stages. And Africa has more than its share of fever inducing diseases.
onset is sudden. Initial symptoms mimic the flu or malaria.
Men who recover from Ebola can transmit the virus thru semen for 7 weeks after recovery.
not ready until sometime late this year or next, Makerere University college of Health Sciences in Uganda, under a grant from Canada, is developing an inexpensive paper strip test (sweat test). Basically the strip will change color.
The WHO also uses a urine test which can be used in field conditions.
Positives to either test could be followed up with serum or skin biopsy analysis.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201310280216.html
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/