Ebola Virus Disease symptoms may appear anywhere from two to 21 days after exposure. There are no specific treatments, but supportive therapy can be provided to address bleeding and other complications.
Ebola symptoms include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain and abnormal bleeding. It is classified as a viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) because of the fever and abnormal bleeding. Among the VHFs, Ebola is feared because of its high mortality.
Important facts about Ebola
• People cannon become infected with Ebola through the air, food or water.
• Ebola virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of an infected symptomatic person or though exposure to objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated.
• People are not contagious until they develop symptoms.
• People at highest risk for the disease include health care workers and family and friends of infected patients.
• Early identification of cases is crucial.
• Effective isolation of patients and appropriate infection control measures applied to any suspect Ebola patient would contain any potential spread.
The risk of the spread of Ebola in California is extremely low. The health care system has protocols in place to prevent the spread of this often deadly disease. While people should be aware of the disease, its symptoms and its potential, it is extremely unlikely that Ebola poses a public health risk to Californians. At the present time, no confirmed cases have been identified in California.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works with local health jurisdictions by preparing for the unlikely event that a traveler returning to California from affected countries is suspected of having Ebola. An important component of being prepared is early identification and testing of suspect cases and implementation of infection control practices to contain the disease.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention have issued Ebola guidelines for nationwide hospitals. Mendocino County hospitals have received Detailed Hospital Checklist for Ebola Preparedness. These checklists are being shared with first responders.
On Aug. 6, CDC issued a travel alert (Level 3) advising travelers to avoid all non-essential travel to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia. The following day, CDC issued a lower level alert (Level 2) for Nigeria advising travelers to practice enhanced precautions.
Source: California Department of Public Health http://www.cdph.ca.gov/Pages/NR14-071.aspx.
Dora Briley is with the Mendocino County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Prevention and Planning Unit (PAPU) of Public Health.
