
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ebola screening
Introduction
Overview
Overview
The CDC has developed a screening tool for patients with suspected Ebola virus disease that can be used to triage patients urgently to the appropriate level of care. The screening tool below requires that the patient meets both the symptom criteria as well as a travel history to be placed in isolation (a private room with standard, contact, and droplet precautions).[1]
Screening
Screening
Click on the picture below to access the PDF format of this poster and print it. The PDF format is interactive; you can click on the blue fields to enter information about the hospital and local and state public health authorities to which person under investigation (PUI) for Ebola should be reported.
Screening Travelers at Airports
Screening Travelers at Airports
Entry screening in the United States
Because of the Ebola outbreak spreading to the US, CDC and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have set in place enhanced entry screening of individuals who have traveled from or through Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. By doing enhanced entry screening at 5 U.S. airports (JFK, Washington-Dulles, Newark, Chicago-O’Hare, and Atlanta international), the CDC hopes to cover over 94% of travelers from the affected countries.
For each arriving traveler who has been in Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone:
1. CBP will give each traveler health information that includes
- Information about Ebola
- Symptoms to look for and what to do if symptoms develop
- Information for doctors if travelers need to seek medical attention
2. Travelers will undergo screening measures to include:
- Answer questions to determine potential risk
- Have their temperature taken
- Be observed for other symptoms of Ebola
3. If a traveler has a fever or other symptoms or has been exposed to Ebola, CBP will refer to CDC to further evaluate the traveler to determine whether the traveler:
- can continue to travel
- should be taken to a hospital for evaluation, testing, and treatment
- should referred to a local health department for further monitoring and support
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [2]
