Who this is for: EMS clinicians (including emergency medical responders (EMR), emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced EMTs (AEMTs), paramedics, and other medical first responders who could be providing patient care in the field, such as law enforcement and fire service personnel), managers of 9-1-1 ECC/PSAPS, EMS agencies, EMS systems, and agencies with medical first responders.

What this is for: Guidance to assure EMS and first responders are safe and patients are appropriately managed while handling inquiries and responding to patients suspected to have viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF). The information contained in this document is intended to complement existing guidance for healthcare personnel.

How to use: Employers and supervisors should use this information to understand and explain to staff how to respond and stay safe. Supervisors can use this information to prepare, educate, and train EMS personnel. Individuals can use this information to stay safe when responding to PUIs.

This guidance refers only to the following viral hemorrhagic fevers: Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) and the South American Hemorrhagic Fevers (i.e., those caused by Junin, Machupo, Chapare, Guanarito and Sabia viruses). Refer to the pathogen-specific pages for further information about the individual pathogens (e.g., signs and symptoms, incubation periods, routes of transmission, diagnosis, treatments).