The overall risk of someone being infected with Ebola and coming to Canada is very, very, low.
As you are likely aware there is a recent outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)
The overall risk of someone being infected with Ebola and coming to Canada is very, very, low. However, we can expect to have travelers returning from the DRC and neighboring countries who will need assessment and we must be prepared to do this safely to ensure they receive the care they need and staff are protected.
Symptoms of Ebola include:
- Fever (≥38°C), headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, unexplained hemorrhage
For patients with symptoms suggestive of Ebola, assess whether they (or a close family member) has traveled to the DRC within the last 21 days.
Should an individual with a recent history of travel to the DRC and Ebola is considered to be in the differential diagnosis we recommend the following:
- Place the patient in isolation*
- Call the following people:
- Medical Health Officer
- Monday-Friday, 0830-1630: 604-587-3828
- After-hours: 604-527-4806
- Local Medical Microbiologist
- Medical Health Officer
The Medical Health Officer will convene an urgent teleconference between the health care provider(s), the Provincial Health Officer, the local Medical Microbiologist, and the BCCDC Medical Microbiologist on call to provide an immediate risk assessment, as well as guidance about how the patient should be managed.
*See guidelines for PPE and isolation at the following link: Ebola- Office of the Provincial Health Officer