For the past several months, we have seen the troubling spread of the Ebola virus in several countries in West Africa. With the recent news of three confirmed cases here in the United States, it is clear that the treatment and prevention of Ebola is now a pressing priority.

As your Representative, I want to provide you with information about Ebola, including how it spreads, what you can do to protect yourself, and what the Administration is doing to fight the outbreak.

What is Ebola?

Ebola, previously known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola virus strains.

Symptoms of Ebola include:

·         Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)

·         Severe headache

·         Muscle pain

·         Weakness

·         Diarrhea

·         Vomiting

·         Abdominal (stomach) pain

·         Unexplained 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.

How is it transmitted?

When an infection does occur, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. Ebola is spread through direct contact with:

· Blood or body fluids (including but not limited to urine, saliva, sweat, feces, vomit, breast milk, and semen) of a person who is infected with Ebola.

· Objects (like needles and syringes) that have been contaminated with the virus.

· A few species of mammals (for example, bats, monkeys, and apes).

Ebola is not spread through the air or by water, or in general, by food. There is no evidence that mosquitos or other insects can transmit the Ebola virus. A person must have symptoms to spread Ebola to others.

How can I protect myself against it?

There is not yet a FDA-approved vaccine available for Ebola.

· Practice careful hygiene. For example, wash your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and avoid contact with blood and body fluids.

· Do not handle items that may have come in contact with an infected person’s blood or body fluids (such as clothes, bedding, needles, and medical equipment).

What is being done to stop the spread of Ebola?

President Obama Appoints Ebola “Czar”

The President has appointed Ron Klain to oversee the government’s Ebola response. He will be tasked with coordinating the efforts to protect the American people by detecting, isolating and treating Ebola patients in this country.

Support for Hospitals and Healthcare Workers

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will now send a rapid response team to the hospital where a patient is housed within 24 hours of an Ebola diagnosis. This measure will allow the CDC to walk local hospitals through the proper protocols step-by-step to ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers.

· The CDC is providing guidance and tools for hospitals and healthcare providers to prepare for and manage potential patients, protect healthcare workers, and respond in a coordinated fashion.

Vaccine Development

· The Department of Health and Human Services is advancing the development and clinical trials of Ebola vaccines and antivirals to determine their safety and effectiveness in humans.

Passenger Screening

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the CDC have closely coordinated to develop policies, procedures, and protocols to identify travelers who may have Ebola, responding in a manner that minimizes risk to the public.

Among these measures:

· CBP personnel review all travelers entering the United States for general overt signs of illness (visual observation, questioning, and notification of CDC as appropriate) at all U.S. ports of entry, including all federal inspection services areas at U.S. airports that service international flights.

· When a traveler is identified with a possible communicable disease or identified from information that is received from the CDC, CBP personnel will take the appropriate safety measures by referring the traveler to a secondary screening, isolating the traveler from other travelers, and referring to CDC or public health officials for a medical assessment. 

· CBP personnel receive training in illness recognition, but if they identify an individual believed to be infected with Ebola, CBP will contact CDC along with local public health authorities to help with further medical evaluation.

 

I know that many of you are concerned about the spread of Ebola and our efforts to combat it, and I appreciate all of you who have contacted me. I want you to know that I share your concern and am dedicated to keeping our communities safe. I encourage you to continue to share your questions and concerns with my office. Also, refer to the CDC website at www.cdc.gov for any additional information about Ebola and the steps we are taking to combat it. As we move forward, I pledge to keep you informed on this matter.