What You Need to Know about Ebola

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  • By Staff Reports
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The 366th Medical Group wants to provide informative facts in response to a recent case of Ebola in the United States.

Individuals are encouraged to read the information provided and contact the MDG for more information.

What is Ebola?
The Ebola Virus Disease is a severe, often fatal disease caused by a virus. There is no specific treatment or vaccine available. Treatment is limited to supportive therapy. Ebola is spread by direct contact with the blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, feces, vomit, and semen) of an infected person or by eating or touching meat from infected animals. Outbreaks of Ebola have occurred in the past in parts of Africa. The current outbreak began in March 2014 and is the largest in history.

Where are Ebola cases occurring?
The majority of Ebola cases have occurred in Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, with a small number of cases occurring in Nigeria and Senegal. There is a smaller, unrelated outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. On Sept. 30, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the first case of Ebola diagnosed in the United States in a person who had traveled from West Africa to Dallas, Texas. The man did not exhibit symptoms while traveling from West Africa, but developed the symptoms about five days after arriving to the United States.

What is the risk of an Ebola outbreak in the U.S.?
The risk of an outbreak in the U.S. is very low. This is because Ebola is only transmitted by direct contact with blood or bodily fluids from an infected person or by contact with objects contaminated by the virus, such as needles or syringes. Family members and health care workers who are in close contact with an infected person or with a person who has died from Ebola are at highest risk of becoming infected.

Ebola is NOT spread through the air, food, water, or by being in the same location as an infected person. Also, Ebola is not like some infections that can be spread even when a person does not have symptoms. The infected person must have symptoms in order to spread the virus.

What if I have recently traveled to Africa?
If you have traveled to an area with an Ebola outbreak or had close contact with a person sick with Ebola, you may be at risk if you:
· Had direct contact with blood or body fluids or items that came into contact with blood or body fluids from a person with Ebola.
· Touched bats or nonhuman primates (like apes or monkeys) or blood, fluids, or raw meat prepared from these animals.
· Went into hospitals where Ebola patients were being treated and had close contact with the patients.
· Touched the body of a person who died of Ebola.

If you have traveled one of the countries listed above, you should check for signs and symptoms of Ebola for 21 days after leaving the area:
· Take your temperature every morning and evening.
· Watch for other Ebola symptoms, like severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.

What are the current travel warnings?
For Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, the CDC elevated their warning to Level 3. U.S. citizens should avoid all non-essential travel to these countries. Travelers may not have access to health care facilities and personnel should they need them in country. This travel warning applies to Air Force Personnel.
For Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, the CDC elevated their warning to Level 2. U.S. citizens should be aware of increased risks so that they can follow enhanced precautions in these areas.

What is the 366th Medical Group doing to protect me and my family?
Healthcare professionals at the 366th MDG are continuously monitoring the outbreak. The hospital has an infection control plan that includes: increased screening of patients for travel history, isolation procedures, patient management, and working with local public health officials. The hospital also continues to monitor for any updated control guidance from the CDC and from Air Force medical consultants.

The 366th MDG recommends that anyone traveling to West Africa contact the Public Health Flight. All members who contact Public Health will be provided a pre-travel medical education briefing. Upon return, travelers are encouraged to contact the Public Health Flight, for evaluation and determining if any additional measures are needed.  They should report to Public Health, even if they do not have symptoms. Their phone number is 208-828-7280.

For further information about the Ebola Virus please visit the CDC's website at:
http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html