Ebola Virus Disease
West Africa continues to experience the largest known outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease, with high case fatality rates, in three countries: Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone. Spread of Ebola was contained in Nigeria, and it has been declared Ebola-free by the World Health Organization. A small number of Ebola cases continue to be diagnosed in travelers returning from West Africa to the United States, and two cases of Ebola were diagnosed in health care workers who cared for a patient with Ebola while he was critically ill in Texas. To date, other persons with a known exposure to confirmed cases in the US have not developed Ebola. As of 10/11/14, CDC is screening all travelers coming into the US from the three impacted countries, and notifying local health departments in their final destination of their arrival. Alameda County Public Health Department (ACPHD) is actively monitoring travelers arriving from these 3 countries with widespread Ebola transmission, including health care workers, for 21 days after date of departure from West Africa. All healthcare providers, including those in primary care and other outpatient settings, should be prepared to identify and temporarily isolate a patient presenting with fever and recent travel from one of the Ebola-affected areas. Early recognition and appropriate infection control precautions continue to be critical for disease control.