UMMS Guidelines for Staff Returning from Countries Affected by Ebola

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa to be an international public health emergency.  Infection with Ebola occurs via exposure to blood and body fluids of infected individuals, with the highest risk to healthcare workers and those in close contact with infected patients. 

Although the chance of an outbreak in the United States is very low, early screening and identification of potentially exposed individuals is key to prevention.  For this reason, all UMMC personnel (defined as UMMC employees, attending physicians, residents, fellows, students, and volunteers) returning from countries affected by the Ebola outbreak (Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria) are encouraged to contact Employee Health Services at 8-0958 or Infection Prevention at 8-5757 upon their return. 

To minimize any risk to patients and other staff, at this time UMMC will follow the CDC’s Interim Guidance for Monitoring and Movement of Persons with Ebola Virus Disease Exposure. 

Accordingly,

  • UMMC Personnel should be aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to avoid nonessential travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

  • UMMC Personnel who have traveled to affected areas and who have been exposed to infected patients by providing healthcare or through close family contact with infected patients, are required to contact Employee Health Services or Infection Prevention before returning to work, for further guidance and screening for potential exposure as needed.

  • Individuals reporting to Employee Health will be advised on symptom monitoring; work restriction may be required in the unlikely event that an exposure risk is identified.

We appreciate your cooperation and attention as we exercise precautionary measures to help protect the health of our patients and each other. If you have any questions, contact:   

Surbhi Leekha, MBBS, MPH
Medical Director, Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology
sleekha@epi.umaryland.edu
410-328-1148

Melissa Frisch, MD, MPH
Medical Director, Employee Health
mfrisch@umm.edu
410-328-2685

 

This content is for Internal Use only.