Ebola

The risk for EVD in the United States is low. Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) are taking steps to prepare.

• On October 4, 2022, CDC issued a Level 2 travel warning to avoid all nonessential travel to affected areas in Uganda.
• Starting the week of October 10, 2022, all airline travelers entering the United States who were in Uganda in the previous 21 days will be funneled into these five U.S. airports: Washington-Dulles, New York’s John F. Kennedy International, Newark International, Chicago O’Hare, and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson. Travelers will be checked for symptoms and high-risk exposures  Passengers who are ill will be sent for medical care.
• Also starting the week of October 10, 2022, VDH staff will assess travelers arriving in Virginia who were in Uganda in the previous 21 days. VDH will monitor those travelers for the 21 days after leaving Uganda..  VDH will refer travelers who develop EVD-related symptoms during the monitoring period for appropriate medical care.

CDC continues to monitor for any emerging Ebola outbreaks. Please visit CDC’s Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease) Outbreaks website for a list of any current or past outbreaks.

Below are documents that EMS providers and agencies can use to help them understand the disease and how it might affect EMS in Virginia.  Both documents include other links that are also helpful in understanding the virus.

• VDH Ebola – Information for Healthcare Professionals
• VDH Ebola (Ebola virus disease) Fact Sheet
• VDH Ebola Info Website
• NIOSH Info about Ebola for Healthcare Workers
• CDC General Info about Ebola: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare and deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates. The viruses that cause EVD are located mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. People can get EVD through direct contact with an infected animal (bat or nonhuman primate) or a sick or dead person infected with Ebola virus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Ebola vaccine rVSV-ZEBOV (tradename “Ervebo”) for the prevention of EVD. The rVSV-ZEBOV vaccine has been found to be safe and protective against only the Zaire ebolavirus species of ebolavirus.
• CDC Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centers/Public Safety Answering Points (ECC/PSAPs) for Management of Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the United States: Employers and supervisors should use this information to understand and explain to staff how to respond and stay safe. Supervisors can use this information to prepare, educate, and train EMS personnel. Individuals can use this information to stay safe when responding to PUIs. **updated 10/07/2022**
• Transporting Suspected / Confirmed Ebola Patients: State EMS officials and regional and state EMS planners can use this information to develop regional transport networks, local transport plans, and standard operating procedures. Managers and medical directors can use this guidance to develop procedures and protocols for their services to conduct interfacility transport (including intrastate or interstate) of PUIs and patients with confirmed Ebola. They may also use the information to prepare, educate, and train EMS personnel. Individual providers may use this information to stay safe when responding to and transporting PUIs or patients confirmed to have Ebola.
• Guidance on Air Medical Transport for Patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD): Use this guidance to ensure the safety of healthcare personnel and patients during AMT of patients with EVD. Explain to pilots, other aircraft personnel, and cleaning crews what special actions should occur before, during, and after transport, and how to stay safe. **updated 10/07/2022**
• Transporting of Pediatric Patients with Ebola: Keeping workers, children, and family members safe while handling inquiries and responding to calls related to pediatric patients (<18 years of age) under investigation (PUI) for Ebola. Managers should use this information to understand and explain to staff how to respond and stay safe. Individual providers can use this information to respond to patients suspected to have Ebola and to stay safe. **updated 10/06/2022**