http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/preparedness/planning-tips-top10.html
Top 10 Ebola Response Planning Tips: Ebola Readiness Self-Assessment for State and Local Public Health Officials
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Background
West Africa is experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak in history. A severe, often fatal disease, Ebola can be spread in several ways to others: through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with a sick person's blood or body fluids or objects that have been contaminated with infected body fluids. Ebola symptoms usually begin after an incubation period ranging from 2 days to 21 days.
During Ebola outbreaks, the disease can spread quickly within families and healthcare settings. Rapid identification of cases is critical. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles must be used, and proper cleaning and sterilization techniques must be followed to prevent spread. See CDC?s 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page for more information about the outbreak, including current case counts and transmission of Ebola.
Purpose
This document identifies rapidly emerging CDC guidelines for Ebola applicable to the public health preparedness national standards for state and local planning. It will:
In March 2011, CDC published national capability standards to guide the development of state and local public health emergency preparedness efforts. This document, Public Health Preparedness Capabilities: National Standards for State and Local Planning, describes the 15 preparedness capabilities necessary for a robust state and local public health emergency response. In January 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services? Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) published national capability standards to align preparedness and response efforts of healthcare systems, healthcare coalitions, and healthcare organizations. This document, Healthcare Preparedness Capabilities: National Guidance for Healthcare System Preparedness, describes eight preparedness capabilities that foster integration of the healthcare sector and public health response efforts. Ebola planning and response requires readiness in six key public health preparedness capabilities and one healthcare preparedness capability including:
The following resources may help state and local jurisdictions address self-identified gaps in Ebola response planning. You are encouraged to review the online resources frequently as information may change over time.
Healthcare System Preparedness
Information Sharing
Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation
Top 10 Ebola Response Planning Tips: Ebola Readiness Self-Assessment for State and Local Public Health Officials
On this Page
- Background
- Purpose
- Public Health Preparedness Capabilities Necessary for Ebola Response
- Ebola Readiness Self-Assessment for State and Local Public Health Officials
Background
West Africa is experiencing the largest Ebola outbreak in history. A severe, often fatal disease, Ebola can be spread in several ways to others: through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with a sick person's blood or body fluids or objects that have been contaminated with infected body fluids. Ebola symptoms usually begin after an incubation period ranging from 2 days to 21 days.
During Ebola outbreaks, the disease can spread quickly within families and healthcare settings. Rapid identification of cases is critical. Proper personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, gowns, and goggles must be used, and proper cleaning and sterilization techniques must be followed to prevent spread. See CDC?s 2014 Ebola Outbreak in West Africa web page for more information about the outbreak, including current case counts and transmission of Ebola.
Purpose
This document identifies rapidly emerging CDC guidelines for Ebola applicable to the public health preparedness national standards for state and local planning. It will:
- guide planning and readiness for Ebola response at the state and local levels
- assist state and local public health officials in assessing their jurisdictions? level of readiness for a potential Ebola response (including individual patients and persons under investigation);
- allow state and local public health systems to identify preparedness and operational gaps relative to Ebola
- identify resources that will assist state and local jurisdictions in closing self-identified gaps
In March 2011, CDC published national capability standards to guide the development of state and local public health emergency preparedness efforts. This document, Public Health Preparedness Capabilities: National Standards for State and Local Planning, describes the 15 preparedness capabilities necessary for a robust state and local public health emergency response. In January 2012, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services? Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) published national capability standards to align preparedness and response efforts of healthcare systems, healthcare coalitions, and healthcare organizations. This document, Healthcare Preparedness Capabilities: National Guidance for Healthcare System Preparedness, describes eight preparedness capabilities that foster integration of the healthcare sector and public health response efforts. Ebola planning and response requires readiness in six key public health preparedness capabilities and one healthcare preparedness capability including:
- Healthcare System Preparedness (Healthcare Preparedness Capability #1)
- Emergency Public Information and Warning (Public Health Preparedness Capability #4)
- Information Sharing (Public Health Preparedness/Healthcare Preparedness Capability #6)
- Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (Public Health Preparedness Capability #11)
- Public Health Laboratory Testing (Public Health Preparedness Capability #12)
- Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation (Public Health Preparedness Capability #13)
- Responder Safety and Health (Public Health Preparedness/Healthcare Preparedness Capability #14)
The following resources may help state and local jurisdictions address self-identified gaps in Ebola response planning. You are encouraged to review the online resources frequently as information may change over time.
Healthcare System Preparedness
- Considering the need for appropriate care and infection control of identified patients and persons under investigation, coordinate with healthcare facilities, healthcare coalitions, and emergency management to develop local and state emergency operations plans that address the concerns and unique needs of healthcare facilities for Ebola response. Assess the readiness for Ebola response within your jurisdiction?s hospitals, inpatient and outpatient healthcare facilities, clinician practices, and other clinical settings. Specifically, ensure that clinicians who may care for Ebola patients or persons under investigation are trained on the following guidance documents and consider the resource needs (such as PPE and other ancillary supplies) that would be needed to implement the guidance.
- Infection Prevention and Control Recommendations for Hospitalized Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever in U. S. Hospitals
- CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) Update: Guidelines for Evaluation of U. S. Patients Suspected of Having Ebola Virus Disease
- Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission for Patients with Suspected Infection with Ebola Virus Disease
- Ebola Virus Disease Information for Clinicians in U.S. Healthcare Settings
- Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) Call- What U.S. Hospitals Need to Know to Prepare for Ebola Virus Disease
- Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Safe Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease in U. S. Hospitals
- Interim Guidance for Environmental Infection Control in Hospitals for Ebola Virus
- Prepare risk communication messages for internal staff and the public including general information on Ebola, risks to the public, risk of transmission, and protective measures. The following links provide CDC resources to assist in developing jurisdictional risk communication strategies and plans.
Information Sharing
- Ensure appropriate personnel are enrolled in information systems and receive CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) notifications. Maintain situational awareness within the jurisdiction by regularly visiting the CDC Ebola website for the latest Ebola information, guidance documents, current case counts, maps of affected areas, and other CDC resources. Disseminate information to state and local response partners, including hospitals, healthcare systems, primary care associations, provider organizations, local public health partners, and emergency management partners.
- CDC EVD website
- CDC?s Epi-X system
- CDC HANs
- CDC COCA website
- Advice for Humanitarian Aid Workers Traveling to Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, or Sierra Leone during the Ebola Outbreak
- Ensure that state and local epidemiologic and medical staff have the latest recommendations for travelers and review the CDC Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with EVD Exposure. This interim guidance is intended to provide public health authorities and other partners with a framework for appropriate public health interventions and travel options for persons exposed to Ebola. State and local public health staff should also assure that travelers have access to current information on the CDC Travelers? Health website, which includes travel notices and Ebola outbreak information.
- CDC Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with EVD Exposure
- CDC?s Travelers? Health website
- Case Definition for Ebola Virus Disease
- Review updated laboratory guidance.
- CDC Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission for Patients with Suspected Infection with Ebola Virus Disease. This guidance provides laboratorians and other healthcare personnel with updated information on handling specimens for testing from persons under investigation for Ebola virus disease.
- Ensure that clinical laboratories review their lab safety protocols and procedures, including proper use of PPE, and have appropriate and sufficient PPE quantities.
Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation
- Share surveillance definitions across the public health jurisdiction.
- Ensure epidemiological tools are available to state and local epidemiologic staff and have a plan for implementation.
- Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure
- Interim Guidance for Specimen Collection, Transport, Testing, and Submission for Patients with Suspected Infection with Ebola Virus Disease
- Ensure that state and local stockpiles of PPE are adequate; ensure that responders and clinicians have been trained on appropriate use.
- Ensure clinicians and responders have reviewed CDC guidance on worker safety.
- Tools for Protecting Healthcare Personnel
- Guidance for the Selection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Healthcare Settings[PDF - 49 pages]
- Sequence for Putting on and Removing Personal Protective Equipment[PDF - 2 pages]
- FAQ: Safe Management of Patients with Ebola Virus Disease in U. S. Hospitals
- Interim Guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for Management of Patients with Known or Suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States
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