Ebola virus disease: Safe provision of health care to quarantining individuals

Cette information est seulement disponible en anglais.

To: Emergency Management Services, Hospital and Infection Prevention and Control Partners

Current status

• A large outbreak of Ebola virus disease is continuing in the Democratic Republic of the Congo; it is expected to continue for several more months.
• There are currently no suspected or confirmed infections of Ebola virus disease in Ontario or elsewhere in Canada. The risk to Canadians remains very low.
• Travellers from risk areas entering Canada are currently required to quarantine for 21 days from the date of entry.
• Local public health agencies are monitoring persons quarantining in their jurisdiction. Public health provides isolation support, education regarding symptom monitoring, and direction if a person develops symptoms.

Assessment of suspect illness

• Quarantining individuals are required to defer health care appointments that are not urgent.
• Those who need urgent health care, whether for symptoms that could be Ebola virus disease, or for unrelated health issues, are expected to disclose their status as possibly having been exposed to Ebola virus disease. This includes:
  • informing 911 dispatch if calling for EMS,
  • calling ahead to emergency departments, or other health care providers, and
  • informing Public Health Sudbury & Districts, so that we can ensure notification of emergency health care partners before patient transport or arrival.
• Pre-arrival services (for example, 911 dispatch) are advised to continue to routinely screen patients for potential infection risks.
• EMS and acute care staff are also advised to continue the routine infection control practice of completing a point-of-care risk assessment before each patient interaction. This assessment will inform the selection of correct personal protective equipment required for interacting with the patient and the patient environment.
• If EMS pre-arrival services, or acute care staff suspect Ebola virus disease, follow the attached VHF triage assessment algorithm (PDF, Public Health Ontario).
• If a patient screens positive, immediately notify Public Health Sudbury & Districts and the Ministry of Health through the Health Care Provider Hotline at 1.866.212.2272 for assessment and direction.

Infection prevention and control guidance

EMS: Infection Prevention and Control Management of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever in Pre-Hospital Care and Ground Transport (PDF, Public Health Ontario)

Acute care: Infection Prevention and Control Guidance for Viral Hemorrhagic Fever in Acute Care (PDF, Public Health Ontario)

For more detailed guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please refer to

• Transportation guidelines: Infection Prevention and Control Management of Viral Hemorrhagic Fever in Pre-Hospital Care and Ground Transport (Government of Canada)
• Waste disposal: Ebola Virus Disease: Management of Waste and Environmental Cleaning for Pre-hospital Care and Ground Transport (Government of Canada)

Reporting to Ministry and Public Health

Health system partners are encouraged to review

• Notification Pathway for Special Pathogens (Ministry of Health)
• Assessment and reporting requirements outlined in the June 4 Advisory Alert: Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda

Ebola resources and information

• Visit the Public Health Ontario Viral Hemorrhagic webpage
• Register for Public Health Ontario Rounds: 2026 Ebola Disease Outbreak Due to Bundibugyo Virus, Wednesday, July 22, noon to 1 p.m. EDT | Eventbrite

For further questions, please contact the Control of Infectious Disease Program at 705.522.9200, ext. 772 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or after-hours and on weekends at 705.688.4366.

Sincerely,

Original Signed By

M. Mustafa Hirji, MD, MPH, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer