Monitoring of Persons with Risk for Exposure to Ebola Virus — United States, November 3, 2014–December 27, 2015

• Published in: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report Vol. 65; no. 49; pp. 1401 - 1404
• Main Authors: Kabore, Hyacinte Julien, Desamu-Thorpe, Rodel, Jean-Charles, Lisa, Toews, Karrie-Ann, Avchen, Rachel Nonkin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 16-12-2016
• Subjects: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); Ebolavirus; Guidelines as Topic; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - epidemiology; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - prevention & control; Humans; Population Surveillance; Risk Assessment; Travel; United States - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0149-2195; 1545-861X
• DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6549a4

During November 3, 2014-December 27, 2015, CDC implemented guidance on movement and monitoring of persons in the United States with potential exposure to Ebola virus (Ebola) (1). Monitoring was concluded in December 2015. After CDC modified the guidance for monitoring travelers from Guinea (the last country for which monitoring of travelers was recommended) in late December 2015, jurisdictional reports were no longer collected by CDC. This report documents the number of persons monitored as part of the effort to isolate, test, and, if necessary, treat symptomatic travelers and other persons in the United States who had risk for exposure to Ebola during the period the guidance was in effect. Sixty jurisdictions, including all 50 states, two local jurisdictions, and eight territories and freely associated states, reported a total of 29,789 persons monitored, with >99% completing 21-day monitoring with no loss to follow-up exceeding 48 hours. No confirmed cases of imported Ebola were reported once monitoring was initiated. This landmark public health response demonstrates the robust infrastructure and sustained monitoring capacity of local, state, and territorial health authorities in the United States as a part of a response to an international public health emergency.