Ebola Outbreak in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Discovery and Control Measures

The Ebola epidemic in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was recognized because of a nosocomial outbreak in Kikwit General Hospital. Initially, a diagnosis of shigella infection was suspected because many patients presented with bloody diarrhea. On 4 May 1995, blood samples from 14 acutely il...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1999-02, Vol.179 (Supplement-1), p.S259-S262
Main Authors: Muyembe-Tamfum, J. J., Kipasa, M., Kiyungu, C., Colebunders, R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Blood
Control, Response, Prevention
Cross Infection - diagnosis
Cross Infection - epidemiology
Cross Infection - prevention & control
Democratic Republic of the Congo - epidemiology
Diagnosis, Differential
Diarrhea
Disease Outbreaks
Disease transmission
Ebola virus
Epidemics
Epidemiologic Methods
Epidemiology
Fever
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - diagnosis
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - epidemiology
Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - prevention & control
Hospital units
Hospitals, General
Humans
Medical personnel
Patient Isolation
Time Factors
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The Ebola epidemic in Kikwit, Democratic Republic of the Congo, was recognized because of a nosocomial outbreak in Kikwit General Hospital. Initially, a diagnosis of shigella infection was suspected because many patients presented with bloody diarrhea. On 4 May 1995, blood samples from 14 acutely ill patients were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Atlanta), and on 9 May, a diagnosis of Ebola hemorrhagic fever was confirmed. The major disease control measures that were undertaken were the isolation of patients in a quarantine ward at Kikwit General Hospital, the distribution of protective equipment to health care workers and family members caring for Ebola patients, the use of barrier nursing techniques, the distribution of health education material, active and passive case finding, and the burying of the deceased in plastic bags by a trained team of Red Cross volunteers who wore gloves and protective clothing.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/514302