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Ebola

As with any illness, tell the child’s family if you are concerned about their health. Contact 911 or your local emergency system if you think a child may be having a medical emergency.

Ebola is a rare disease that causes serious illness and can be fatal. It is caused by an Ebola virus found in several African countries. Recovery from Ebola depends on receiving good, supportive clinical care and a person’s immune response. People who recover from Ebola develop antibodies that last for at least 10 years.

What are the symptoms of Ebola?

Symptoms of Ebola include:

  • Fever
  • Severe headache
  • Muscle pain
  • Vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
  • Unexplained bleeding or bruising

Symptoms appear anywhere from two to 21 days after being in contact with someone who has Ebola. Symptoms usually appear after eight to 10 days.

Ebola is a notifiable disease.

If a staff member or child is diagnosed with Ebola or has been around someone who is infected, contact and follow guidance from the public health department in your jurisdiction. Your local health authorities can help you notify parents/guardians about their child’s possible or confirmed exposures to an infectious disease.

How does Ebola spread?

The Ebola virus spreads through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola. These body fluids include feces, saliva, sweat, urine, vomit, and breast milk. The virus in blood and body fluids can enter another person through broken skin or through the eyes, nose, or mouth.

It is important to know:

  • The Ebola virus does not spread through air or by water, or by food grown or approved for consumption in the United States.
  • A person who has been exposed to the Ebola virus but does not have symptoms is not infectious.

Who is at risk?

Anyone who has had contact with the blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola is at high risk for infection.

Children in the Unites States are at greater risk of catching seasonal flu than catching Ebola. Most children are not at risk unless they had direct contact with the blood or body fluids of someone who is sick with Ebola.

How can providers limit the spread of Ebola?

Once a Head Start program has identified a case of Ebola, it should exclude the child or adult for more testing and medical treatment.

Other guidance includes:

  • Providers should screen all children and staff for Ebola.
  • It is recommended that the program exclude children and staff infected with Ebola until they start treatment and the health care provider confirms they are no longer infectious.
  • If a staff member or volunteer has had contact with a person sick with Ebola, public health authorities might ask them to stay home for up to 21 days. Programs should review their emergency plans and staffing availability to make sure they have adequate coverage.
  • Staff absences may be the primary challenge for most Head Start programs. Absences may be from illness or fear of exposure to Ebola while at work.

Programs should also clean materials:

  • Programs should separate soiled bedding (on cribs, mats, cradles, or cots) from other laundry to avoid contamination. Then they should machine-wash soiled bedding separately.
  • Infected areas and materials should be washed with mild liquid soap.

As always, follow regular infection control practices to help keep everyone healthy:

  • Minimize exposure to illness:
    • Encourage children and adults to stay home when they’re sick.
    • Do daily health checks when children arrive.
    • Watch children for signs of illness. Contact their parent or guardian if a child is too sick to stay. Early identification and treatment can help make the symptoms less severe and decrease the risk of spreading Ebola to others.
  • Limit germs in the environment:
    • Wash hands with soap and water often throughout the day.
    • Do not let children share mouthed toys, cups, or utensils.
    • Regularly clean, sanitize, and disinfect surfaces and toys.
    • Teach people to cover their coughs and sneezes.
    • Throw away used tissues.
    • Let fresh air indoors.
    • Spend time outdoors.
  • Follow, review, and update exclusion policies. Exclude children if they:
    • Are too sick to take part in program activities
    • Need more care than staff can give them without affecting the health and safety of other children
    • Show any other signs or symptoms in your “stay home when sick” policy
  • Use your program’s health experts, including your Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee or child care health consultant, to stay up to date and to develop policies and procedures to prevent the spread of illness.

How can providers partner with families?

Here are some ways programs can partner with families:

« Go to Infectious Disease Fact Sheets

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