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When to Call for Exposure to Ebola

Care Advice

Ebola Exposure within Last 21 Days and Symptoms

1. What You Should Know:
   • You were exposed to Ebola in the last 21 days and now have symptoms.
   • You need to be checked to see if you have Ebola.
2. Go to the Emergency Room (ER) After You Talk to the ER:
   • You must phone the ER before you go there. You should go to a nearby ER after you call and talk to them. Tell them your symptoms and that you were exposed to Ebola. This way the ER will be ready to take care of you and protect others.
   • The ER is the best place to get testing and treatment.
   • The ER is most prepared to prevent the spread of this infection to others.
3. Isolation Is Needed:
   • Do Not go to work or school
   • Do Not go to church, child care centers, shopping, or other public places.
   • Avoid close contact with others (hugging, kissing). Do Not shake hands.
4. Protect Others from Your Body Fluids:
   • Protect others from your blood and other body fluids!
   • Body fluids include breast milk, saliva, semen, stool, sweat, urine, and vomit.
   • Cover any bleeding area with a towel or cloth.
   • Other people should avoid contact with your blood or body fluids. They should not touch you. They should not handle your bedding materials or dirty clothes.

Ebola Exposure within Last 21 Days and No Symptoms

1. What You Should Know:
   • You were exposed to Ebola but you do not have any symptoms.
   • Since it's been less than 21 days, you still are at risk for getting Ebola. The Ebola infection starts within 21 days following the last exposure.
   • You will need to watch for symptoms until 21 days have passed.
2. Call the Local Public Health Department Right Away:
   • Call the local public health department right away.
   • If you cannot contact the public health department, call your doctor.
   • This is very important. This must be done to stop the spread of the disease.
3. Stay at Home, Check Your Temperature:
   • Stay at home until you talk with the public health department or your doctor.
   • They will tell you how much isolation is needed during the 21 days.
   • Check your temperature two times a day. Report any fever or symptoms to the health care person following you.
4. Go to the Nearest Emergency Room (ER) If:
   • Fever occurs within 21 days of Ebola exposure
   • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting occurs within 21 days of Ebola exposure
   • Headache occurs within 21 days of Ebola exposure
   • Unexplained bruising or bleeding occurs within 21 days of Ebola exposure
   • Important Note: You must phone the ER before you go there. You should go to a nearby ER after you call and talk to them. Tell them your symptoms and that you were exposed to Ebola. This way the ER will be ready to take care of you and protect others.
5. Call Your Doctor If:
   • You have other questions or concerns

Ebola Exposure Over 21 Days Ago and No Symptoms

1. What You Should Know:
   • Symptoms appear 2 to 21 days after the last exposure to Ebola. The average is 8-10 days.
   • If you have not had any of the most common symptoms (fever, abdominal pain, headache, unexplained bleeding) during the 21 days after an exposure, then you should be safe from getting Ebola.
2. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Fever occurs
   • You think you need to be seen
   • You get worse

Questions About Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

1. What You Should Know:
   • Ebola virus disease(EVD or Ebola) is an infection caused by the Ebola virus.
   • It is a rare disease, but the death rate can be around 50%.
   • There have been small outbreaks in Africa since 1976. In 2014, a major outbreak of Ebola started in Guinea in Western Africa.
   • On September 30, 2014, the CDC reported the first case of Ebola in the United States. The patient got Ebola while in Liberia.
   • From 2017 to 2019, cases have been reported in different areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
   • The infection is spread human-to-human. The first cases may have come from contact with infected bats or monkeys.
2. Symptoms:
   • Symptoms appear 2 to 21 days after the last exposure to Ebola. The average is 8-10 days.
   • Fever is a common and concerning symptom. After Ebola Exposure, if you have any fever you need to be checked. An oral temperature of 100.0° F (37.8° C) or higher is a fever. If you do not have a thermometer, then fever is a (subjective) sense of feeling too warm.
   • Other symptoms include: abdominal pain, diarrhea, severe headache, muscle pain (myalgia), vomiting, and weakness. Bleeding and bruising are late symptoms.
3. How it is Spread:
   • Ebola can be spread to others.
   • People with Ebola do not spread the disease until they become sick and get a fever.
   • The Ebola virus can be spread by blood or body fluids (including feces, saliva, semen, urine, vomit) of a person who is sick with Ebola. It can be spread by contaminated objects (like needles and syringes). It can be spread by handling infected animals such as bats and primates (apes, monkeys) in countries that have an Ebola outbreak.
   • Ebola is not spread by coughing or sneezing. It is not spread in the water nor in food. There is no evidence that it is spread by mosquitoes or other insects. Ebola is not spread through body fluid contact with intact skin. Blood or vomit on normal skin is safe if carefully washed off.
4. What Countries have Ebola Outbreaks?
   • All patients with Ebola have been linked to countries in West Africa. They have either lived in or have traveled to one of these countries: Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
   • If you neither live nor have traveled to one of these countries, your risk of getting Ebola is very low.
   • For the most up-to-date list of countries where Ebola is occurring, go to the CDC website: Ebola Outbreaks.
5. Internet Resources
   • Centers for Disease Control, United States (CDC): Ebola
   • World Health Organization (WHO): Ebola virus disease.
6. Call Back If:
   • You have other questions.

Treating Fever

1. For All Fevers:
   • Drink cold fluids to stay hydrated. This replaces fluids lost when you sweat. It improves heat loss through your skin. Adults should drink 6-8 glasses of water daily.
   • Dress in one layer of lightweight clothing and sleep with one light blanket.
   • For fevers 100-101°F (37.8-38.3°C), this is the only treatment. You do not need to take fever medicine.
2. Fever Medicine:
   • For fevers above 101° F (38.3° C) take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
   • They are over-the-counter (OTC) fever drugs. You can buy them at the drugstore.
   • The goal for treating fever is to bring it down to a comfortable level.
   • Fever medicine usually lowers fevers by 2° F (1 - 1.5° C).
   • Use the lowest amount of a drug that makes your fever get better.
   • Acetaminophen is safer than ibuprofen or naproxen in people over 65 years old.
   • Read the instructions and warnings on the package insert for all medicines you take.

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.