Prevention

In areas where Ebola is occurring, healthcare workers and people caring for individuals with Ebola without proper infection control measures are at the highest risk of infection. If you live or work in remote areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, or South Sudan you can take steps to protect yourself:

• Avoid contact with body fluids from people and animals
• Wear appropriate protective equipment if you come into contact with someone who is sick or has died from Ebola, or when handling their blood, body fluids, or objects covered with their blood or body fluids

General Information

• Mode of transmission: African fruit bats are the main reservoir for the disease. Non-human primates and forest antelopes also carry the disease. Contact with the body fluids of an infected animal, infected person, or contaminated objects (such as needles and bedding). A person must be sick to spread it to others. Animals that carry the Ebola disease can be found in Africa.
• Contagiousness: Ebola can be spread once symptoms start. It spreads through direct contact with body fluids and is most likely to be spread when symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, and bleeding. The bodies of people who have died from Ebola are still contagious. Ebola is not airborne.
• Population at risk: Travelers to affected areas, people who have direct contact with confirmed cases, and laboratory personnel.
• Epidemiologic trends: Highly unlikely in the U.S., but occurs in outbreaks in parts of Africa. People with potential exposure or travel to affected areas are monitored for 21 days.

Prevention & Control Strategies

• Vaccination: No universal vaccine available.
• Surveillance and outbreak response: Real-time case reporting; contact tracing with symptom monitoring for high- and intermediate-risk exposures.
• Treatment: No specific treatment; supportive care, including fluids and symptom management.
• Mitigation: Isolate patient. Implement standard, contact, and droplet precautions.