November
2014
What You Need to Know
About Ebola
Not knowing the facts of a scary illness can sometimes make it seem even
scarier. Educating yourself is often the best defense. With so much focus on
Ebola here is a run down of what you need to know.
An Excerpt From the World Health Organization (WHO)
Key facts
Department of Public Safety
MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
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
Ebola virus disease (EVD), is a severe, often fatal illness in humans.
The virus spreads in the human population through human-to-human transmission, meaning direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected
people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids.
 The average EVD case fatality rate is around 50%. Case fatality rates have
varied from 25% to 90% in past outbreaks.
 Community engagement is key to successfully controlling outbreaks. Good
outbreak control relies on case management, surveillance and contact tracing, a good laboratory service, safe burials and social mobilization.
Early supportive care with rehydration, symptomatic treatment improves survival. There is as yet no licensed treatment proven to neutralize the virus but a
range of blood, immunological and drug therapies are under development.
Symptoms of Ebola virus disease
The incubation period, that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to
onset of symptoms is 2 to 21 days. Humans are not infectious until they develop
symptoms. First symptoms are the sudden onset of fever, fatigue, muscle pain,
headache and sore throat. This is followed by vomiting, diarrhea, rash, symptoms
of impaired kidney and liver function, and in some cases, both internal and external bleeding (e.g. oozing from the gums, blood in the stools).
Prevention and Control
Raising awareness of risk factors for Ebola infection and protective
measures that individuals can take is an effective way to reduce human
transmission. Risk reduction messaging should focus on several factors:
reducing contact, direct or close, with people with Ebola symptoms, particularly with their bodily fluids. Gloves and appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn when taking care of ill patients at home.
Regular hand washing is required after visiting patients in hospital, as
well as after taking care of patients at home.
An Excerpt From the Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Risk Factors
High risk—direct contact of infected body fluids through:

needle stick, or splashes to eyes, nose, or mouth

getting body fluids directly on skin
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handling body fluids, such as in a laboratory, without wearing personal protective equipment (PPE)

living with and caring for a person showing symptoms of Ebola
Some risk—
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close contact with a person showing symptoms of Ebola such as in a household, health care facility, or
the community (no PPE worn). Close contact means being within 3 feet of the person with Ebola for a
long time without wearing PPE.
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in countries with widespread Ebola transmission: direct contact with a person showing symptoms of
Ebola while wearing PPE
Low risk (but not zero)—
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having been in a country with widespread Ebola transmission within the previous 21 days and having
no known exposure
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being in the same room for a brief period of time (without direct contact) with a person showing symp-
toms of Ebola
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having brief skin contact with a person showing symptoms of Ebola when the person was believed to
be not very contagious
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in countries without widespread Ebola transmission: direct contact with a person showing symptoms of
Ebola while wearing PPE

travel on an airplane with a person showing symptoms of Ebola
**DPS Note: Someone that exhibits the symptoms of Ebola and falls within any of the above risk factors, should
go directly to the hospital or contact 911 immediately for transport to the hospital.
No risk—
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contact with a person who is NOT showing symptoms AFTER that person was in contact with a person with Ebola
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contact with a person with Ebola BEFORE the person was showing symptoms
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having traveled to a country with Ebola outbreak MORE than 21 days ago
having been in a country where there is no widespread Ebola transmission (e.g., the United States), and
having no other exposures to Ebola
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D E P A R T M E N T O F PU B L I C S A F E T Y