Questions and Answers on Ebola:
What is Ebola?
Ebola virus is the cause of a viral hemorrhagic fever disease. Symptoms include: fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, lack of appetite, and abnormal bleeding. Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to ebolavirus though 8-10 days is most common.
How is Ebola transmitted?
Ebola 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 with infected secretions.
Facts-About-Ebola - Download the Ebola Infographic!
Facts About Ebola HF – Download the Infographic!
Can Ebola be transmitted through the air?
No. Ebola is not a respiratory disease like the flu, so it is not transmitted through the air.
Can I get Ebola from contaminated food or water?
No. Ebola is not a food-borne illness. It is not a water-borne illness.
Can I get Ebola from a person who is infected but doesn’t have any symptoms?
No. Individuals who are not symptomatic are not contagious. In order for the virus to be transmitted, an individual would have to have direct contact with an individual who is experiencing symptoms.
Q: Are there any cases of individuals contracting Ebola in the U.S.?
Yes.
An American aid worker infected with the deadly Ebola virus while in Liberia arrived in the United States from West Africa on Saturday, August 2, 2014, and walked into an Atlanta hospital, wearing a bio-hazard suit, for treatment in a special isolation unit.
A chartered medical aircraft carrying Dr. Kent Brantly touched down at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Georgia, shortly before noon. Brantly was driven by ambulance, with police escort, to Emory University Hospital in Atlanta for treatment in a specially equipped room.
Television news footage showed three people in white biohazard suits step gingerly out of the ambulance. Two of them walked into the hospital, one seeming to lean on the other for support. A hospital spokesman confirmed that Brantly walked into the building under his own power.
Dr. Jay Varkey, an infectious disease specialist at Emory, said he could not comment on a treatment plan until Brantly had been evaluated. Since there is no known cure, standard procedures are to provide hydration with solutions containing electrolytes or intravenous fluids, according to the World Health Organization
What is being done to prevent ill passengers in West Africa from getting on a plane?
CDC is assisting with active screening and education efforts on the ground in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes. In addition, airports in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are screening all outbound passengers for Ebola symptoms, including fever, and passengers are required to respond to a healthcare questionnaire. CDC is also surging support in the region by deploying 50 additional workers to help build capacity on the ground.
What is CDC doing in the U.S.?
On the remote possibility that an ill passenger enters the U.S., CDC has protocols in place to protect against further spread of disease. These include notification to CDC of ill passengers on a plane before arrival, investigation of ill travelers, and, if necessary, isolation. CDC has also provided guidance to airlines for managing ill passengers and crew and for disinfecting aircraft. CDC has issued a Health Alert Notice reminding U.S. healthcare workers of the importance of taking steps to prevent the spread of this virus, how to test and isolate suspected patients and how they can protect themselves from infection.
What about ill Americans with Ebola who are being brought to the U.S. for treatment? How is CDC protecting the American public?
CDC has very well-established protocols in place to ensure the safe transport and care of patients with infectious diseases back to the United States. These procedures cover the entire process — from patients leaving their bedside in a foreign country to their transport to an airport and boarding a non-commercial airplane equipped with a special transport isolation unit, to their arrival at a medical facility in the United States that is appropriately equipped and staffed to handle such cases. CDC’s role is to ensure that travel and hospitalization is done to minimize risk of spread of infection and to ensure that the American public is protected. Patients were evacuated in similar ways during SARS.
What does the CDC’s Travel Alert Level 3 mean to U.S. travelers?
On July 31, the CDC elevated their warning to U.S. citizens encouraging them to defer unnecessary travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone over concerns that travelers may not have access to health care facilities and personnel should they need them in country.
Pathogen Protection including Bloodborne Protection such as BBP Kits and Spill Clean-Up Kits. Other Blood borne pathogen infection control and Airborne Pathogen Protection supplies such as Antimicrobial and Germicidal Wipes, Antiseptic Solutions and Disinfectant Sprays, Fluid Control Solidifiers and Biohazard Bags, Gowns, Booties and Masks – even Personal Protection Kits & Sharps Disposal. Also see our OSHA Bloodborne Pathogen Training Materials
Airborne Protection
American Red Cross Germ Guard Personal Protection Packs, N95 Particulate Respirators (N-95 Masks), Procedural Masks, Surgical Masks & Protective Bird Flu Kit.
Germicidal Solutions
Sanizide Plus environmental surface germicidal solution, available in spray bottles and gallon jugs. Proven effective against a wide variety of bacterial and viral pathogens.
Antimicrobial Wipes
Safetec Personal Antimicrobial Wipes available bulk or boxed – Dispenser canister of SaniZide Plus Germicidal Wipes. Tough microbe killing substances such as Cholroxylenol (PCMX) and Ethyl Alcohol.
Germicidal Wipes
Personal Germicidal Wipes individually wrapped and in dispenser canisters – SaniZide Plus Germicidal Wipes – These pre-saturated, hard surface wipes kill TB, MRSA, VRE, E Coli and more in 10 minutes and HIV-1 in 2 minutes.
BBP & Personal Protection Kits
Personal Protection, PPE, Bloodborne Pathogen kits, Bodily Fluid Spill Kits, and BBP kits supplies including Gloves, Bonnets, Face Shields and other bloodborne pathogen cleanup kit items to protect rescuers from Blood and OPIM.
Personal Protection Products
Disposable Gowns, Disposable Shoe Covers, bonnets, masks and eye shield – designed to protect rescuers attending to causalities or cleaning up bodily fluids and bio-hazardous materials.
Bloodborne Protection
Personal Protection from exposure to Bloodborne Pathogens and Bodily Fluid Spill, Gloves, Disposable Shoe Covers & Masks.
Sharps Disposal
Sharps Disposal Containers available in 1 Quart and 5 Quart sizes as well as wire and lockable wall brackets for sharps containers. SharpSentinel containers designed to provide cost-effective sharps disposal together with the safety features you require.
Disinfectants & Deodorizers
SaniZide solutions and Antiseptic Bio Hand Cleaner Gel available in bottles and sprays. Kills Bacteria and Fights Infections.
Spill Pick Up
From the American Red Cross Fluid Spill Emergency Responder Pack to Biohazard Scoops, Biohazard Bags, and Disposable Towels – we have the bodily fluid spill clean up products you need.
Fluid Control Solidifiers
Red-Z Fluid Control Solidifiers by Safetec – available in individual packs & Fluid Control Solidifier Shakers.
ALSO SEE PANDEMIC PROTECTION:
Concerned about Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in the US? Many of these product are on the CDC recommendation list for avoiding Ebola contamination -READ ABOUT EBOLA. From treating the Common cold or Flu to preparing to reduce risk of exposure to Influenza A, H3N2 variant viruses (“H3N2v”,) H1N1, H7N9 Bird Flu, Avian Flu, Swine, Bat, Canine, or other pathogens, we have a number of outstanding values for Cleaning, covering, and protecting you from unnecessary exposure. Find Antimicrobial Packs, American Red Cross Germ Guard, N95 Masks, Hand Sanitizers, BZK wipes and much more…
See our Pandemic Preparedness Article ISHN Magazine!