February 5, 2025
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory about a recently confirmed outbreak of Ebola disease in Uganda.
Currently, no suspected, probable, or confirmed Ebola cases related to this outbreak have been reported in the United States, or outside of Uganda. However, as a precaution and because there are other viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreaks in East Africa, CDC is sharing best practices for public health departments, public health and clinical laboratories, and healthcare workers in the United States to raise awareness about this outbreak.
On February 5, 2025, CDC issued a Travel Health Notice Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions for people traveling to Uganda. Currently, CDC has not issued any interim recommendations to health departments for post-arrival risk assessment and management of travelers, including U.S.-based healthcare workers, arriving from Uganda. CDC recommends that travelers monitor themselves for symptoms of Sudan virus disease (SVD) while in the outbreak area and for 21 days after leaving. Travelers should also self-isolate and contact local health authorities or a clinician if they develop symptoms (early “dry” symptoms may include fever, aches, pains, and fatigue and later “wet” symptoms may include diarrhea, vomiting, and unexplained bleeding).
CDC continues to monitor for any emerging Ebola outbreaks. Please visit CDC’s Ebola (Ebola Virus Disease) Outbreaks website for a list of any current or past outbreaks.
The risk for EVD in the United States is low. Still, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) are taking steps to prepare
Below are documents that EMS providers and agencies can use to help them understand the disease and how it might affect EMS in Virginia. Both documents include other links that are also helpful in understanding the virus.
- Letter from Dr. Karen Shelton, State Health Commissioner
- CDC Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services and PSAPs (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Emergency Communications Centers/Public Safety Answering Points (ECC/PSAPs) for Management of Patients Under Investigation (PUIs) for Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the United States:
- CDC Interim Guidance on Air Medical Transport for Patients with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD): Use this guidance to ensure the safety of healthcare personnel and patients during AMT of patients with EVD. Explain to pilots, other aircraft personnel, and cleaning crews what special actions should occur before, during, and after transport, and how to stay safe.
- CDC General Info about Ebola: Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a rare and deadly disease in people and nonhuman primates. The viruses that cause EVD are located mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. People can get EVD through direct contact with an infected animal (bat or nonhuman primate) or a sick or dead person infected with Ebola virus.
- VDH Ebola – Information for Healthcare Professionals
- VDH Ebola (Ebola virus disease) Fact Sheet
- VDH Ebola Info Website
- Regional Council EVD Response Plans