Systems for Rapidly Detecting and Treating Persons with Ebola Virus Disease - United States

The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), CDC, other US government agencies, the World Health Organization (WHO), and international partners are taking multiple steps to respond to the current Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa to reduce its toll there and to reduce the chances of international spread. At the same time, CDC and HHS are working to ensure that persons who have a risk factor for exposure to Ebola and who develop symptoms while in the US are rapidly identified and isolated, and safely receive treatment. HHS and CDC have actively worked with state and local public health authorities and other partners to accelerate health care preparedness to care for persons under investigation for Ebola or with confirmed Ebola. Here, Koonin et al discuss some of these efforts and their impact.