Ebola Virus Disease

 

To date, the largest outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) on record is occurring in West Africa with around 50% mortality. The main objective at Western Health is to identify anyone with possible EVD upon initial contact with the organisation. If a patient attends Western Health and is identified as having returned from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea​ within the past 21 days and is feverish or unwell, they should be referred to and escorted to the emergency department immediately. After discussion with the Chief Health Officer or delegate from the Department of Health, the patient will then be urgently transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, which is the designated facility for Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers in Victoria.

Read: Western Health Ebola Management Plan​​​ (last updated 15 December 2014)

More information:​

• Victorian Ebola Virus Disease Response Plan - 12 November 2014​ 

• The national guidelines for Ebola have recently been revised. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-ebola.htm/$File/EVD-SoNG.pdf

• World Health Organization (WHO) EVD updates available from the WHO website: www.who.int/csr/disease/

• Australian Department of Health – EVD website https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ohp-ebola.htm

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USA) website (http://www.cdc.gov/) http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/procedures-for-ppe.html

• Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides information for travellers on the Smartraveller website www.smartraveller.gov.au/