- Dustin Hoffman's role of Sam Daniels was originally intended for Harrison Ford. Coincidentally, Harrison Ford's character in Blade Runner (1982) was written with Dustin Hoffman in mind.
- Donald Sutherland plays a general to Dale Dye's colonel. Four years earlier in JFK (1991), Dye played a general to Sutherland's colonel.
- In the film, it is said that "Motaba" was more deadly than the "Ebola" virus. Then they show a picture of the "Motaba" virus. The virus shown in the photograph, is a strain of Ebola.
- Donald Sutherland took over from Joe Don Baker.
- The music and (briefly seen, somewhat blurred) footage of a cartoon seen in the movie theater scene is from the Tom & Jerry episode Polka-Dot Puss (1949). It's appearance in Outbreak is somewhat apt, as in the cartoon, Jerry tricks Tom in to believing he has caught measles, and then proceeds to 'cure' him. The episode ends with both Tom and Jerry actually contracting measles and being quarantined.
- The monkey shown as the host is a White-headed Capuchin, a species native to Central and South America. This conflicts with the setting of the original virus in Zaire, Africa.
- Betsy, the white-headed capuchin Monkey, also appears in the sitcom "Friends" (1994) as Marcel, Ross' pet. The monkey's prior role in Outbreak was spoofed by a poster showing Marcel as the star in the fictional movie "Outbreak 2: The Virus Takes Manhattan". Both the movie and the TV series are Warner Brothers productions.
- When investigating the village in Zaire several of the huts are burned down. This is the traditional tribal method for controlling the spread of an infection in many parts of the world. Food and water are left outside the entrance to the dwelling and the occupants cannot leave. If several days (usually 3 or 4) of these supplies are not used then the dwelling is burned down to stop the infection from spreading.
>>> WARNING: Here Be Spoilers <<<
Trivia items below here contain information that may give away important plot points. You may not want to read any further if you've not already seen this title.
- SPOILER: The bomb that explodes in the ocean was scripted to explode over the town, vaporizing it. Boss Film actually did the effects sequence showing the destruction, but test screenings forced the filmmakers to re-shoot the end with the town being saved.
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