WVDHHR > Office of Epidemiology and Prevention Services > Infectious Disease Epidemiology > Zoonotic Diseases > Other Zoonotic Diseases > Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever

About Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever

Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) is one of numerous Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers. It is a severe, often fatal, disease in humans and nonhuman primates (such as monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees). Researchers believe that Ebola is zoonotic, with bats as the most likely reservoir of the disease. Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976 in the Democratic Republic of Congo near the Ebola River. Since then, outbreaks have appeared sporadically. The recent outbreak in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria has resulted in over 1,700 infections and almost 1,000 deaths.

Picture of the Ebola Virus. (From BBC.CO.UK)

GENERAL INFORMATION Public Information Sheet CDC's Ebola Site CDC Ebola FAQ CDC Advice for Colleges, Universities, and Students About Ebola in West Africa Enhanced Airport Screening Fact Sheet RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Current Case Definition for Ebola Facts About Ebola (CDC) RESOURCES FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS Coordination of Specimens for Ebola Virus Testing Management of Ebola Cases in Hospitals Algorithm for Evaluating Returning Travellers Checklist for Evaluating Patients Ebola Risk Assessment for School Nurses

INFO ON RETURNED TRAVELERS For documents and resources from the CDC on the monitoring of returned travelers, CLICK HERE.

Viral hemorrhagic fevers are prevalent in Africa and rare in the United States. They are caused by four classes of viruses (Filoviruses, Arenaviruses, Bunyaviruses, and Flaviviruses). Humans are incidentally infected by the bite of an infected tick or mosquito, via aerosol generated from an infected rodent urine or feces, or by direct contact with infected animal carcasses. With the exception of Rift Valley fever and the diseases caused by Flaviviruses (Yellow fever, Omsk HF, and Kyasanur Forest Disease) which are not transmissible person-to-person, infected humans can spread the disease to close contacts by touching bodily fluids, which may result in community outbreaks and healthcare-associated infections.

Reporting Guidelines

• Suspect or confirmed cases immediately to local health department by phone and follow up with written report

Protocol

• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Surveillance Protocol 

Current Case Definition

• CDC Case Definition

Required Forms

• Viral Hemorrhagic Fever Case Report Form
• CDC Ebola Contact Tracing Form
• CDC Ebola Case Investigation Form
• Health Agreements
  • Low Risk
  • Some Risk
  • High Risk

General Information 

• Public Information
• Information for Public Health Officials 

Other Links

• West Virginia Office of Laboratory Services Threat-Preparedness and Bioterrorism Response Unit
• JAMA Statement
• CDC Information: Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response
• University of PIttsburgh Medical Center: Center for Biosecurity
• Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota
• West Virginia Bioterrorism Information