Ebola or Not? Evaluating the Ill Traveler From Ebola-Affected Countries in West Africa.
Item
Click for External Resource*
Click to read full article*
*The link above may share a zip file (.zip) hosted on repository.netecweb.org. Zip files will download automatically.
*All other links are external and will open in a new window. If you click an external link, you are leaving the NETEC site, and we do not maintain, review, or endorse these materials. See our terms of use.
Files for Download
ofw005.pdf
Item Type
PublicationTerms of Use
By accessing these materials you are agreeing to our terms of use, which may be found here: Terms of Use.
Document Viewer
Title
Ebola or Not? Evaluating the Ill Traveler From Ebola-Affected Countries in West Africa.
Subject
Description
The 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa had global impact beyond the primarily affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
Date
2016-01-18
Type
Citation
Fairley, J. K., P. E. Kozarsky, C. S. Kraft, J. Guarner, J. P. Steinberg, E. Anderson, J. T. Jacob, P. Meloy, D. Gillespie, T. R. Espinoza, A. Isakov, S. Vanairsdale, E. Baker and H. M. Wu (2016). "Ebola or Not? Evaluating the Ill Traveler From Ebola-Affected Countries in West Africa." Open Forum Infect Dis 3(1): ofw005.
Abstract
Background. The 2014-2015 Ebola epidemic in West Africa had global impact beyond the primarily affected countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Other countries, including the United States, encountered numerous patients who arrived from highly affected countries with fever or other signs or symptoms consistent with Ebola virus disease (EVD). Methods. We describe our experience evaluating 25 travelers who met the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention case definition for a person under investigation (PUI) for EVD from July 20, 2014 to January 28, 2015. All patients were triaged and evaluated under the guidance of institutional protocols to the emergency department, outpatient tropical medicine clinic, or Emory's Ebola treatment unit. Strict attention to infection control and early involvement of public health authorities guided the safe evaluation of these patients. Results. None were diagnosed with EVD. Respiratory illnesses were common, and 8 (32%) PUI were confirmed to have influenza. Four patients (16%) were diagnosed with potentially life-threatening infections or conditions, including 3 with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and 1 with diabetic ketoacidosis. Conclusions. In addition to preparing for potential patients with EVD, Ebola assessment centers should consider other life-threatening conditions requiring urgent treatment, and travelers to affected countries should be strongly advised to seek pretravel counseling. Furthermore, attention to infection control in all aspects of PUI evaluation is paramount and has presented unique challenges. Lessons learned from our evaluation of potential patients with EVD can help inform preparations for future outbreaks of highly pathogenic communicable diseases.
Accessibility
free online - Pubmed Central
Was this resource helpful?