Ebola risk factors

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]: Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:  Michael Maddaleni, B.S.;Guillermo Rodriguez Nava, M.D. [2]; Rim Halaby, M.D. [3]; Yazan Daaboul, M.D.

## Overview[edit | edit source]

The main risk factors for Ebola virus disease (EVD) include a recent travel to endemic regions, provision of direct care or exposure/processing of blood or body fluids of a symptomatic patient with Ebola virus disease, and direct contact with a dead body in an endemic region without personal protective equipment (PPE).[1]

## Exposure Risk Levels[edit | edit source]

Levels of exposure risk are defined as follows[1]:

* High risk
* Some risk
* Low (but not zero) risk
* No identifiable risk

## Risk Factors[edit | edit source]

The following epidemiologic risk factors should be considered when evaluating a person for Ebola virus disease (EVD), classifying contacts, or considering public health actions such as monitoring and movement restrictions based on exposure.[1]

#### High Risk[edit | edit source]

High risk includes any of the following[1]:

* Percutaneous (e.g., needle stick) or mucous membrane exposure to blood or body fluids of EVD patient while the patient was symptomatic
* Exposure to the blood or body fluids (including but not limited to feces, saliva, sweat, urine, vomit, and semen) of a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
* Processing blood or body fluids of a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic without appropriate PPE or standard biosafety precautions
* Direct contact with a dead body without appropriate PPE in a country with widespread Ebola virus transmission
* Having lived in the immediate household and provided direct care to a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

#### Some Risk[edit | edit source]

Some risk includes any of the following[1]:

* In countries with widespread Ebola virus transmission: direct contact while using appropriate PPE with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic
* Close contact in households, health care facilities, or community settings with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic. Close contact is defined as being for a prolonged period of time while not wearing appropriate PPE within approximately 3 feet (1 meter) of a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

#### Low Risk[edit | edit source]

Low (but not zero) risk exposure includes any of the following[1]:

* Having been in a country with widespread Ebola virus transmission within the past 21 days and having had no known exposures
* Having brief direct contact (e.g., shaking hands) while not wearing appropriate PPE, with a person with Ebola while the person was in the early stage of disease
* Brief proximity, such as being in the same room for a brief period of time, with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic
* In countries without widespread Ebola virus transmission: direct contact while using appropriate PPE with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic
* Traveled on an aircraft with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic

#### No Identifiable Risk[edit | edit source]

No identifiable risk includes[1]:

* Contact with an asymptomatic person who had contact with person with Ebola
* Contact with a person with Ebola before the person developed symptoms
* Having been more than 21 days previously in a country with widespread Ebola virus transmission
* Having been in a country without widespread Ebola virus transmission and not having any other exposures as defined above

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Epidemiologic Risk Factors to Consider when Evaluating a Person for Exposure to Ebola Virus". www.cdc.gov. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). October 27 2014. Retrieved October 28 2014. Check date values in: `|accessdate=, |date=` (help)

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