Subsequent events (Details) - Subsequent Event [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		1 Months Ended
Jul. 14, 2017	Jul. 19, 2017
Sanofi [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Total value of transaction	$ 125.0
Upfront cash payment	97.5
Amount of payment for manufacturing related milestones	$ 27.5
Term of contract under acquisition	10 years
Value of contract	$ 425.0
Sanofi [Member] \| CDC [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Amount for deliveries of product to the SNS	$ 160.0
GSK [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Upfront cash payment		$ 76.0
Amount of payment for manufacturing related milestones		20.0
GSK [Member] \| BARDA [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Amount for deliveries of product to the SNS		$ 130.0

Amount for deliveries of product to the Strategic National Stockpile ("SNS").

No definition available.

Name:	ebs_AmountForDeliveriesOfProduct
Namespace Prefix:	ebs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with manufacturing related milestones.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ebs_AmountOfPaymentForManufacturingRelatedMilestones
Namespace Prefix:	ebs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Term of contract under acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ebs_TermOfContractUnderAcquisition
Namespace Prefix:	ebs_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Refers to the value of contract.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ebs_ValueOfContract
Namespace Prefix:	ebs_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the identifiable assets acquired in excess of (less than) the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 10
-Section 55
-Paragraph 37
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73531372&loc=d3e2207-128464

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 805
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73530397&loc=d3e4845-128472

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow associated with the acquisition of business during the period. The cash portion only of the acquisition price.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Glossary Investing Activities
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3213-108585

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis=us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ebs_SanofiMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ebs_EBSCDCMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=ebs_GSKMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=ebs_BARDAMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: