This messaging is for District of Columbia (DC) healthcare facilities that provide urgent, emergency, outpatient, or short-stay acute care services and is in response to an ongoing outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. DC healthcare facilities should maintain vigilance and readiness in case there is an imported EVD case. This includes reviewing infection prevention and control processes, specifically those pertaining to the safe identification and management of patients with communicable infections. This communication provides Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) infection prevention and control guidance, and addresses EVD preparedness concerns that are pertinent to U.S. healthcare facilities and personnel.

This document is intended to serve as high level guidance for DC healthcare facilities that might encounter a patient under investigation (PUI) for EVD. All information in this document should be used in concert with the Ebola Readiness Assessment (ERA) reports from 2015/16 (if applicable) and with resources available through the CDC, the National Ebola Training and Education Center (NETEC), and other relevant organizations.