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October 3, 2014
The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. Although the risk of an Ebola outbreak in the United States is very low, CDC and partners are taking precautions to prevent this from happening. On 9/30/2014, CDC confirmed, the first travel-associated case of Ebola to be diagnosed in the United States.
Symptoms of Ebola include:
- Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal (stomach) pain
- Unexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)
Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days. Recovery from Ebola depends on the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.
Recommendations for Breastfeeding/Infant Feeding in the Context of Ebola (September 19, 2014)
Use this document to advise breastfeeding women with probable or confirmed Ebola virus disease about the care and feeding of their infant during their infection.
Key Points:
- When safe alternatives to breastfeeding and infant care exist, mothers with probable or confirmed Ebola virus disease should not have close contact with their infants (including breastfeeding).
- In resource-limited settings, non-breastfed infants are at increased risk of death from starvation and other infectious diseases. These risks must be carefully weighed against the risk of Ebola virus disease.
What Obstetrician-Gynecologists Should Know About Ebola: A Perspective From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (September 9, 2014)
Obstetrics & Gynecology
U.S. health care providers should ask patients about recent travel and should know the signs and symptoms of Ebola virus disease and what to do if assessing a patient with compatible illness. This article provides general background information on Ebola and specifically addresses what is known about Ebola virus disease in pregnancy and the implications for practitioners in the United States.
Evaluating Patients for Possible Ebola Virus Disease: Recommendations for Healthcare Personnel and Health Officials (October 2, 2014)
CDC reminds healthcare personnel and health officials to:
- increase their vigilance in inquiring about a history of travel to West Africa in the 21 days before illness onset for any patient presenting with fever or other symptoms consistent with Ebola;
- isolate patients who report a travel history to an Ebola-affected country (currently Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea) and who are exhibiting Ebola symptoms in a private room with a private bathroom and implement standard, contact, and droplet precautions (gowns, facemask, eye protection, and gloves); and
- immediately notify the local/state health department.
Please disseminate this information to physicians, registered nurses, nurse-midwives, midwives, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, naturopathic doctors, and others who provide care for women and pregnant women in the U.S., as well as to emergency departments, clinics, urgent care centers, community organizations, and microbiology laboratories.
For more information, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html
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