Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Western African Countries: 2014

Abstract

Citation: Cheepsattayakorn A, Cheepsattayakorn R (2014) Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak in Western African Countries: 2014. J Hum Virol Retrovirol 1(4): 00022. DOI: 10.15406/jhvrv.2014.01.00022 Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Multiple western African countries are currently affected by the 2014 Ebola virus disease, the largest in the history. A single case was reported in Senegal, whereas a small number of cases were reported in Nigeria, nevertheless, these cases are considered to be contained, with no spread in these countries. The lines on the tabular situation reports, sent to the World Health Organization (WHO) each day by its country office in Nigeria, have presently been full of zeros for 42 days, thus, Nigeria is currently free of Ebola virus transmission. In the United States, two imported cases, two locally acquired cases in healthcare workers, including one death have been reported. Healthcare providers should evaluate the patient’s epidemiological risks, including a history of travel to a country with widespread Ebola virus transmission or contact with an individual with symptomatic Ebola virus disease within the previous 21 days. In case of considering diagnosis of Ebola virus infection or disease, the patient should be isolated in a single room with a private bathroom, and the standard, contact, and droplet precautions, including the proper personal protective equipment should be followed. In case of suspicion of Ebola virus infection or disease, the infection control personnel, and the local or state health department should be immediately contacted for consultation and to evaluate whether Ebola virus infection or disease testing is indicated and the need for initiating identification of the contacts. During investigation of a confirmed case of Ebola virus infection or disease, for each potentially exposed person, both clinical presentation and the level of exposure should be taken into account when determining the proper public health actions, including the active (or direct active) monitoring, the application of movement restrictions, and the need for medical evaluation when indicated. No identifiable risk includes contact with an asymptomatic individual who had contact with individual Ebola, contact with a individual with Ebola before the individual developed symptoms, having been more than 21 days previously in a country with widespread Ebola virus transmission, and having been in a country without widespread Ebola virus transmission and not having any other exposures as Editorial