Tracing and Follow-Up of Contacts During an Ebola Cluster in the U.S.

One hundred seventy-nine contacts of the index patient and two subsequently infected healthcare workers were screened and followed, but no further transmissions were documented.

A 45-year-old man developed fever, headache, and abdominal pain after arriving in Texas from Liberia. Ebola was not considered during his first visit to a Dallas emergency department on September 25, 2014, and he was discharged. After he returned with worsening symptoms 3 days later, Ebola was diagnosed and contact precautions were initiated. Despite intensive treatment under appropriate precautions, the man died 9 days later. On October 11 and 15, Ebola was confirmed in two healthcare workers (HCWs) who, while wearing personal protective equipment, had had substantial interaction with the man.

Screening of >280 potential contacts identified 179 true contacts — anyone who had touched the skin or any body fluid of a symptomatic patient with c…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Tracing and Follow-Up of Contacts During an Ebola Cluster in the U.S.

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Reviewing Author