Ebola Outbreak: What CDC is Doing

CDC response

Globally

CDC is working with international partners and the DRC and Uganda Ministries of Health on this evolving situation. CDC is further supporting response efforts by providing strategic and technical assistance with:

• Disease tracking and contact tracing
• Laboratory sample collection and virus sequencing
• Infection prevention and control (IPC)
• Local border health efforts
• Coordinating affected countries and international public health partners
• Risk communication and community engagement

In the United States

Protecting travelers and communities

CDC has travel health notices in place for DRC and Uganda to help Americans who are planning travel to either country make informed travel decisions.

CDC is taking layered public health measures to prevent Ebola from entering the United States, including:

• To reduce the risk of Ebola importation into the United States, U.S. entry for travelers who were recently in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is temporarily restricted. Travelers, including Americans, who have been in DRC within 21 days of their flight will not be allowed to board commercial flights with U.S. destinations.
• U.S. citizens and U.S. nationals who have been present in Uganda or South Sudan (and not present in DRC) within 21 days of arrival in the United States must only enter through designated airports for enhanced screening.
• Supporting state and local health departments in traveler monitoring efforts
• Maintaining a robust port health protection system to detect, assess and manage ill travelers arriving at a U.S. port of entry
• Enhancing laboratory testing capacity and hospital readiness nationwide
• Continuing deployment of CDC personnel to support outbreak containment efforts in affected regions

Preparing for potential cases

• CDC has extensive clinical guidance and training for both U.S. and non-U.S. settings, including Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Patients in U.S. Hospitals who are Suspected or Confirmed to have Selected Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers.
• CDC is also coordinating with health departments nationwide to:
  • Follow established patient assessment protocols if BVD is suspected in a patient with concerning clinical and epidemiologic history.
  • Coordinate patient management, specimen collection, and BVD testing with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments, CDC, and clinical teams.
• CDC is also supporting U.S. Government interagency efforts to coordinate the safe withdrawal of a small number of Americans who are directly affected in outbreak areas.
• Long-standing laboratory preparedness efforts are online for suspected viral hemorrhagic fevers like Ebola to allow for testing directly at CDC or through one of 43 Laboratory Response Network public health laboratories.