Alert and response to the Ebola Virus Disease epidemic

1.3 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

1.3.6 Ebola virus containment strategy and patient care

1.3.6.1 Identifying a potential case when there is no outbreak

When an epidemic outbreak occurs, such as the one happening currently in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, several cases occur within a short period of time. However, it is much more difficult to detect an Ebola Virus Disease case in the absence of any epidemic context.

The initial symptoms (elevated fever and headaches) are frequent symptoms of many diseases.

Most patients with a fever are affected by a common illness such as malaria, typhoid fever, dysentery or a bacterial infection.

As soon as a VHF is considered, isolation precautions must be put in place to avoid contamination of the health care personnel.