Ebola Virus Disease
Fact Sheet
Purpose
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a potentially severe illness caused by the Ebola virus. Early stages of the disease are characterized by fever, chills, fatigue, headache, sore throat, malaise, muscle, joint and back pain. These symptoms can progress to vomiting, diarrhea, chest and abdominal pain with swelling in the stomach, severe weight loss, delirium, shock and in severe cases bleeding, organ dysfunction and death.
Ebola is contracted through direct contact of the mucous membranes or non-intact skin with blood or body fluids from an infected person or animal. Additionally, Ebola can be transmitted from contact with surfaces contaminated by body fluids such as clothes, bedding, medical equipment.
The risk to most travelers is considered low, but it is important to be on the lookout for illnesses compatible with EVD and remain vigilant for other illnesses prevalent in the region (e.g., Malaria, Typhoid, etc.).
Considerations
Consider Ebola when there is a history of travel to an affected area within the last 21 days or known contact with a patient diagnosed with Ebola (e.g., health care workers), lab worker handling Ebola virus or processing body fluids, time spent in a healthcare facility in an Ebola affected area where cases are being treated, contact with human remains of an Ebola suspected or known case, contact with bats, primates or wild animal bush meat from Ebola affected areas and the symptoms listed below:
Symptoms
Symptoms can begin 2 to 21 days after exposure
| Initial symptoms include: | Additional symptoms may include: |
|---|---|
| • Fever • Chills • Headache • Sore throat • Cough • Weakness • Myalgia • Fatigue • Muscle pain • Joint pain • Loss of appetite |
• Rash (Erythematous maculopapular rash on trunk) • Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea • Conjunctivitis (Red eye) • Chest and abdominal pain • Jaundice • Swelling and pain in the stomach area • Severe weight loss • Delirium • Shock • Bruising • Nosebleeds • Hemorrhaging (inside or outside body) |
How is Ebola spread?
Ebola virus can spread through direct contact of mucous membranes or non-intact skin with:
• infected animals
• blood, body fluids or tissues of infected persons (feces, urine, vomitus, saliva, sweat, amniotic fluid, breast milk, semen)
• the body of someone who has died from Ebola; or
• clothes, bedding and medical equipment, such as needles and syringes, contaminated with infected body fluids.
Ebola cannot be spread:
• through airborne transmission (unless aerosolized during AGMP’s)
• through food or water (unless contaminated with bodily fluids of a symptomatic person)
• via an infected person who does not have symptoms
The incubation period for EVD is 2 -21 days. Patients are not infectious until they develop symptoms, most often fever.
Suspect a person may be at risk?
All patients are screened by call takers either in Dispatch or the Patient Transfer Network to identify whether they are at risk of having Ebola (through travel to an affected country or contact with a known case of EVD).
When attending to a patient with a cough, vomiting or diarrhea, you should be following routine practices and additional droplet precautions:
• Wear fluid impermeable gown, gloves, fit tested N95 mask and full-face shield.
• Put a surgical mask on the patient.
• Provide timely care to patients in quarantine without symptoms using routine precautions. If you unexpectedly encounter a suspected EVD patient, stop and contact CliniCall immediately, perform a PCRA and escalate precautions as directed. Do not initiate enhanced PPE beyond your scope. IDCT teams are specially trained and equipped with advanced IPAC measures (e.g., extended-cuff double gloving, apron use) for high-risk patient transport.
As part of your point-of-care risk assessment, if a patient has any of the above symptoms ask for any travel history to affected countries or if they have had any contact with wild animals (such as contact with bats, primates or wild animal bush meat from Ebola affected area) or a symptomatic person suspected of having Ebola in the previous 21 days.
If so:
• Leave the immediate area – have the patient stay in a comfortable position then wait outside and minimize contact with others in the home while waiting for technical and medical advice.
• Contact BCEHS dispatch immediately for advice
• Do not administer nebulized therapy
• Avoid direct contact with the patient or with the patient’s blood or body fluids, including medical equipment such as needles which may be contaminated.
When are you considered exposed to Ebola?
A first responder is considered to be exposed at the worksite if they meet the following conditions:
• They did not wear the recommended personal protective equipment AND:
• Had direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, feces, secretions, organs or any other bodily fluids of infected people, or with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing or equipment) contaminated with these fluids OR
• Sustained a sharps injury with medical equipment, such as needles, contaminated with infected body fluids
What if you're exposed?
If a first responder is exposed (contact without wearing appropriate PPE, or a BBF/blood splash) to either a suspected or confirmed case of Ebola at work, they will be required to immediately perform first aid:
• The site of a percutaneous injury should be thoroughly rinsed with running water, and any wound should be gently cleansed with soap and water.
• Mucous membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth should be flushed with running water if contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
• Non-intact skin should be rinsed thoroughly with running water if contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions or excretions.
• After performing first aid he/she should contact their appropriate health and safety officer. Immediately phone the dedicated BC Ambulance phone number for your area that is used for immediate contact with BCEHS Dispatch. Direct consultation with the Medical Health Officer (MHO) for their geographical area will be arranged, and depending on their scenario, the Medical Health Officer will advise the first responder on the specific recommended actions for their personal care and monitoring for signs and symptoms of Ebola.
When should you self-monitor?
A first responder should self-monitor for signs and symptoms of Ebola while caring for and for 21 days after termination of care for a person with a suspected or a confirmed case of Ebola. All first responders who are self-monitoring will be contacted daily by occupational health and/or their local MHO.
What should paramedics who are self-monitoring do?
❑ Record temperature twice daily and report any reading ≥ 38.0°C to their local public health department.
❑ Refrain from taking any medications that reduce fever (e.g. Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen) for the duration of the monitoring period, if possible.
❑ Monitor for appearance of any other early symptoms including chills, headache, muscle or joint pain and weakness, sore throat, rash, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting.
Additional symptoms may include: conjunctivitis with red eyes, chest and abdominal pain, jaundice, swelling and pain in the stomach area, severe weight loss, delirium, shock, bruising, nosebleeds and hemorrhaging.
If symptoms appear, they must SELF ISOLATE as quickly as possible and immediately call their local Public Health Department. Public Health will arrange direct discussion with the medical health officer for your geographical area to provide you with step-by-step instructions on how to travel to the hospital for medical treatment without exposing others. Communication and notification within your own organization should be immediately established internally
When to contact a health and safety officer?
First responders should contact their health and safety officer if they: • Are caring for/have cared for a person with suspected/confirmed case of Ebola without the appropriate use of personal protective equipment • Are unsure if they meet the exposure criteria • Meet the exposure criteria • Are caring for/have cared for a suspected/confirmed case of Ebola and have symptoms of Ebola.
BCEHS is continuing to work on ways of minimizing potential exposure and will provide updates as available
References
Review Schedule
| Adopted | Next Review Scheduled | Owner | Reviewer |
|---|---|---|---|
| JUL 2026 | DEC 2026 | Chief Medical Officer | Clinical Hub |