EBOLA - ZAIRE: CDC ADVISORY MEMORANDUM

Date sent:        Fri, 12 May 1995 16:10:51 -0400
To:               promed@usa.healthnet.org
From:             woodall@wadsworth.org
Subject:          PROMED: Ebola - Zaire: CDC Advisory


EBOLA - ZAIRE: CDC ADVISORY MEMORANDUM
======================================  

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Public Health Service
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Atlanta, Georgia  30333

In reply, address CDC                                  May 12, 1995
Refer to:  NCID:DQ

ADVISORY MEMORANDUM No. 111

SUBJECT: Ebola Virus Hemorrhagic Fever - Zaire

The Government of Zaire and the World Health Organization have reported
an unusual outbreak of Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever in Kikwit,
(approximatley 250 miles southeast of Kinshasa)  and the surrounding
areas within Bandudu Province, Zaire.  The incubation period (time
before symptoms appear) for Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever may range
from 2-21 days.  The average is approximately 1 week.  The illness is
characterized by an abrupt onset of fever and headache.  Continued fever,
headache, general malaise, muscle aches, joint pain, and sore throat are
commonly followed by vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain.  A transient,
measles-like skin rash, that subsequently becomes scaly, often appears at
the end of the first week of illness.  Persons infected with the virus may
suffer  internal hemorrhaging, severe organ failure and death.

The disease is primarily transmitted by contaminated injections and close
personal contact with severely ill patients.  Transmission usually occurs
by direct contact with infected blood, secretions, organs or semen.
Otherwise, the risk of infection is believed to be very low.  Persons in
the incubation period are not considered to be a significant risk to
those around them.

Travelers to Zaire are at low risk of acquiring the disease under normal
circumstances.  To eliminate the risks, travelers should avoid the Ebola
virus areas described above.  Travelers in Zaire should contact the U.S.
Embassy for further information after arrival in Kinshasa.

For future updates of this advisory, you may call CDC International
Travelers' Voice Information Service at (404)332- 4559 press 1, then
press 4, and listen for the outbreak menu for Zaire or you may call the
CDC Fax Information Service at (404) 332-4565 and request document #221009.

All recipient health departments, travel agencies, airlines, and shipping
companies should notify prospective travelers of the recommendations in
this advisory.



Brian Mahy, Ph.D.                             Charles R. McCance
Director                                                Director
Division of Viral and                         Division of Quarantine
 Rickettsial Diseases                         National Center for
National Center for                            Infectious Diseases
 Infectious Diseases
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