Southern Illinois University Edwardsville | SIUE



Guidance for Southern Illinois University Edwardsville concerning Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) for Travelers to Affected CountriesRisk of Ebola in the U.S. Remains LowMembers of the SIUE community share the international concern about the outbreak in West Africa of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) a severe, often fatal viral illness. SIUE is actively monitoring the situation and relying on public health resources to provide information and links to the most up-to-date and accurate information available. This interim guidance is meant to provide some basic protocols and procedures for monitoring, controlling and limiting any possible exposure to Ebola in the rare chance of a case occurring within the University system. This document will be updated as necessary. Please click the hyperlink for the latest information on Ebola from the Center for Disease Control CDCRisk in the U.S.:?The risk of being exposed in the U.S. continues to be low. The CDC and public health officials throughout the country remain confident that we will be able to stop Ebola's further spread within the U.S. through thorough case review, isolation of ill people, contacting people exposed to the ill person and further isolation of contacts if they develop symptoms. As long as the outbreak in West Africa continues, there will remain a chance that additional imported cases could occur.If you have recently traveled to an area experiencing an Ebola outbreak and are experiencing any symptoms of Ebola, call 911 immediately and disclose your travel history and symptoms and avoid contact with others while symptomatic.?Transmission:?Ebola is not a food-, water-, or air-borne illness. The virus is transmitted through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with:Blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk and semen) of a person who is sick (symptomatic) with Ebola.Objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus.Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, by food. However in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola virus. Only mammals (for example, humans, bats, monkeys and apes) have shown the ability to become infected with and spread Ebola virus. Symptoms of Ebola include:FeverSevere headacheMuscle painWeaknessDiarrheaVomitingAbdominal (stomach) painUnexplained hemorrhage (bleeding or bruising)Symptoms may appear anywhere from 2 to 21 days after exposure to Ebola, but the average is 8 to 10 days.?Recovery from Ebola depends on good supportive clinical care and the patient’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola infection develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.Consult Illinois Department of Public Health at IDPH and CDC algorithms for evaluating patients potentially exposed to Ebola.Medical Protocols:?The SIUE Campus Health Services and local hospitals are well-versed in caring for international travelers and other potential patients and use CDC-recommended protocols for screening, evaluation, isolation and protective procedures.?Travel Warning:?The CDC has issued a travel warning (Level 3) against any nonessential travel to the affected areas (Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone). SIUE is postponing all education-related travel to these countries until further notice. SIUE is actively monitoring this situation and will respond appropriately as conditions change, but has no plans to suspend travel to other locations in the world at this time. ?These situations can develop rapidly and the latest information on traveler health advisories can be found here.Individuals who are planning or returning from personal travel to Liberia, Guinea, or Sierra Leone are required to contact the SIUE Campus Health Services to obtain the latest guidance for protecting themselves while they visit, as well as support during the 21 day health monitoring period (see next section) after they return.?Contact information for those and other sources of support within the University can be found at the end of this document.Concern for Students/Staff/Faculty: The CDC recommends that the University identify students, faculty, staff and University guests, who have been in countries where Ebola outbreaks are occurring within the past 21 days and should conduct a risk assessment with each identified person to determine his or her level of exposure risk (high, low, or no known exposure).?All persons who have been in these countries within the past 21 days must conduct health monitoring as detailed below.If there are no noted symptoms of Ebola for 21 days since leaving an endemic area with Ebola outbreaks, they do not have Ebola and no further assessment is needed.If a student, faculty or staff member has had a high-or low-risk exposure, state or local public health authorities (including EM&S) must be notified. University officials should consult with public health authorities for guidance about how that person should be monitored. Anyone with a potential exposure should receive thorough education about immediately reporting symptoms and staying away from other people if symptoms develop.High risk includes any of the following:Percutaneous (e.g., needle stick) or mucous membrane exposure to blood or body fluids of a person with Ebola while the person 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 bodily 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 includes any of the following: 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 (but not zero) Risk includes any of the following: 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 stages 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.Have traveled on an aircraft with a person with Ebola while the person was symptomatic. No identifiable risk includes:Contact with an asymptomatic person who had contact with a 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 wide spread Ebola virus transmission and not having any other exposures as defined above. Health Monitoring Procedures: pay attention to your health after you return:Monitor your health for 21 days:Take your temperature every morning and evening.Watch for other Ebola symptoms: severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.If you develop a fever or you have any other Ebola signs or symptoms, seek medical care immediately.Follow CDC guidance for the monitoring and movement of persons with Ebola Virus Disease exposure.If you experience any of these symptoms:Call 911 immediately and tell the dispatcher about your recent travel history and your symptoms before you go to the hospital. Advance notice will help the medical personnel care for you and protect other people who may be in the hospital.Limit your contact with other people when you travel to the hospital; avoid public transportation.Do not travel anywhere except to the hospital.Limit your contact with other people if you are sick. Do not go to work, classes or other student activities until you have been medically evaluated.Testing will be performed to determine if you have Ebola.During the time that you are monitoring your health, if you have no symptoms, you can continue your normal activities, including work and school. If you get symptoms of Ebola, it is important to stay separated from other people and to call 911 right away. Contacts:SIUE Health Services – 618-650-2842Emergency Management and Safety– 618-650-3584SIUE International Student Services– 618-650-3785Center for Disease Control's Emergency Operations Center - 770-488-7100Madison County Health Department – 618-692-7478Illinois Department of Public Health – 217-782-4977Illinois Department of Public Health Ebola Hotline – 800-889-3931This guideline was developed in part from guidance documents concerning Ebola from Indiana University with their permission. ................
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