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Infection Control for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in the African Health Care SettingAbout the ManualIn 1995, an outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (Ebola HF) affected more than 300 people in and around the city of Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly, Zaire); approximately 80% of the patients died. More than one-fourth of all the patients were health care workers. After the outbreak, the DRC Ministry of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) developed practical recommendations for carrying out viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) isolation precautions in rural health facilities in Africa. These recommendations have been consolidated in a manual for the local health community. Although there is still a great deal to learn about Ebola HF, two observations from the Kikwit outbreak strongly indicate that future outbreaks of this magnitude could be prevented:
The observations sent a strong message to the public health and medical communities in Africa and internationally: combining early suspicion of VHF and isolation precautions can help to prevent another serious outbreak of Ebola HF or other VHF in the future. The only question remaining was how these goals could be achieved in a region where resources are scarce and the health care infrastructure is either underdeveloped or deteriorating. This manual, prepared collaboratively by CDC and WHO, attempts to address the issues of early provisional diagnosis and response within a limited infrastructure. It is designed for the following uses:
The recommendations in the manual make use of common, low-cost supplies, such as household bleach, water, cotton cloth, and plastic sheeting. Step-by-step instructions for implementing the recommendations are presented along with instructional aids for easy reference in health centers. The manual is available in English, French, and Portuguese. Download the Manual
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This page last reviewed July 30, 2012 |