Update: Outbreak of Ebola Viral Hemorrhagic Fever -- Zaire, 1995
On May 6, 1995, CDC was notified by health authorities and the
U.S. Embassy in Zaire of an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic fever in
the Kikwit area of Bandundu region, Zaire (1). On May 10, testing
of blood specimens from ill patients confirmed that the outbreak
was caused by Ebola virus. Through May 24, the investigation of
this outbreak by public health authorities has identified a total
of 144 persons with viral hemorrhagic fever, including 108 (75%)
deaths, in the city of Kikwit and the surrounding area. The median
age of ill persons was 37 years (range: 9 months-71 years); 70 were
male, 68 were female, and six were of unknown sex.
Reported by: M Musong, MD, Minister of Health, Kinshasa; T Muyembe,
MD, Univ of Kinshasa; K Mungala, MD, Kikwit General Hospital.
Technical Scientific International Coordinating Committee, Kikwit,
Zaire. Medecins Sans Frontieres, Belgium. Div of Viral and
Rickettsial Diseases, and Div of Quarantine, National Center for
Infectious Diseases; International Health Program Office, CDC.
Editorial Note
Editorial Note: From May 17 (when this outbreak was first reported
in MMWR {1}) though May 24, the investigation identified an
additional 51 cases of suspected Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF) in
Zaire. The incubation period for EHF ranges from 2 days to 21 days
(2); because the outbreak investigation and control measures were
initiated on May 10, new cases may represent persons who were
exposed to the virus before the institution of the control
measures. The ongoing investigation is assessing the effectiveness
of these control measures in interrupting transmission, which is
believed to result principally from direct contact with ill persons
or their blood or body fluids.
Because of the length of the incubation period for EHF, the
potential exists for persons with incubating illness to travel from
the outbreak-affected area to the United States. To minimize the
potential for spread of Ebola virus to the United States,
precautionary measures have been instituted, under the provisions
of the Foreign Quarantine Regulations, * including 1) issuance of a
travel advisory by the U.S. Department of State and an advisory
memorandum by CDC distributed to state and local health
departments, other federal government agencies, airlines, travel
agents, and travel clinics; 2) with the assistance of the U.S.
Immigration and Naturalization Service, distribution of the routine
Health Alert Notice to all passengers arriving in the United States
from Europe and Africa; and 3) distribution of an Ebola Virus
Hemorrhagic Fever Alert Notice (EVHFN) to any travelers who have
recently been in Zaire -- EVHFN instructs these travelers to
contact
a health-care provider if they develop a febrile illness during the
3 weeks after they arrive in the United States.
CDC maintains a hotline providing updates on the outbreak of
EHF in Zaire (telephone {800} 900-0681).
CDC. Management of patients with suspected viral hemorrhagic
fever. MMWR 1988;37(no. S-3).
42 CFR, Part 71.
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