Interim Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Care of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Filovirus Haemorrhagic Fever in Health-Care Settings, with Focus on Ebola. August 2014

 

INTRODUCTION

 

This document provides a summary of infection prevention and control (IPC) measures for those providing direct and non-direct care to patients with suspected or confirmed cases of Filovirus haemorrhagic fever (HF), including Ebola or Marburg haemorrhagic fevers, in health-care facilities (HCFs). It also includes some instructions and directions for those managing the implementation of IPC activities. 

 

These IPC measures should be applied not only by health-care professionals but by anyone in direct contact with patients (e.g. visitors, family members, volunteers), as well as by those not in contact with patients but potentially exposed the virus through contact with the environment (e.g., c leaners, laundry, house-keepers, security).

 

This document represents a rapid update of the WHO 2008 “Interim Infection Control Recommendations for Care of Patients with Suspected or Confirmed Filovirus (Ebola, Marburg) Hemorrhagic Fever”. 

 

This update is based upon review of WHO and other international reference documents being used in the current Ebola outbreak (see references) and international experts’ consensus.

 

Ebola is a severe illness caused by Ebola virus. (http://www.who.int/csr/disease/ebola/en/). It is highly infectious, rapidly fatal, with a death rate of up to 90%, but can be prevented. It is spread through direct contact with body fluids like blood, saliva, urine, sperm, etc. of an infected person and by contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, including linen soiled by body fluids from an infected person. The Ebola virus can be relatively easily eliminated with heat, alcohol-based products, and sodium hypochlorite (bleach) or calcium hypochlorite (bleaching powder) at appropriate concentrations.

 

Download Here:

PDF LINK