CDC Guidance on Ebola Countries with past or current Ebola outbreaks are confined to central and western Africa, the current Ebola outbreak is in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Senegal in western Africa. There is a separate Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is unrelated to the western Africa outbreak. Background: About Ebola • Ebola is a rare and often fatal disease. Those infected in the current outbreak were either healthcare workers or families/close friends of a case patient. • Early symptoms include fever and headache, so Ebola is difficult to distinguish from other illnesses at this stage. • Ebola can spread from person to person through direct contact with: o blood or body fluids (such as saliva, urine, blood, vomit, feces, sweat, semen or other fluids ) of an infected person o objects contaminated with the blood or body fluids of an infected person (needles, medical equipment) Transmission does not occur from walking by, talking with or being in a room with an infected person. • There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Ebola, so avoiding exposure by minimizing physical contact with sick person or contaminated items is important. Early Symptoms: • Ebola can only be spread to others after symptoms begin. Symptoms can appear from 2 to 21 days after exposure. o Fever o Headache o Diarrhea o Vomiting o Stomach pain o Unexplained bleeding or bruising o Muscle pain • After 21 days, if an exposed person does not develop symptoms, they will not become sick with Ebola. What is the risk to US Citizens? • The risk to US Citzens is very low. How can US CItizens protect themselves? • Avoid direct physical contact with ill travelers, and hospitals or healthcare facilities treating Ebola cases. • Follow standard protocols for using personal protective equipment. If you must have physical contact with ill travelers, their blood or body fluids, use gloves and a mask. • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after having contact with an ill traveler, and after removing gloves. • Use hand sanitizer when hands are not visibly soiled and when hand washing stations are unavailable. How can I prevent contracting Ebola? Make sure to do the following: • Practice careful hygiene. Avoid contact with blood and body fluids of people who are sick with Ebola. • Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids. • Avoid funeral or burial rituals that require handling the body of someone who has died from Ebola. • Avoid contact with wild animals and with raw or undercooked meat (bush meat). • Avoid hospitals where Ebola patients are being treated. The U.S. Embassy or consulate is often able to provide advice on facilities that are suitable for your needs. • Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever (greater than 101.5°F or 38.6°C) and additional symptoms such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising. o If you choose to seek medical care due to possible symptoms of Ebola, limit your contact with other people when you travel to the doctor; avoid public transportation. Do not travel anywhere except to doctor’s office or hospital.
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:11:23 +0000
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