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Dayton
& Montgomery County
Establishes Ebola Hotline
937-225-6217
As a result of the worldwide Ebola crisis, many people in our community
have learned
something about the virus. However, many have additional questions and
are not certain where
to call for reliable information. Therefore, the health departments in
the West Central Region of
Ohio have established a hotline number for the public where they can
call and get correct
answers to the questions they may have. People who are in the West
Central Region, which
includes Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble,
and Shelby counties,
can call 937-225-6217 for additional information about Ebola, from 7:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Monday-Friday. Ebola information is available at any time by visiting
PHDMC.org.
Basic Ebola information:
Public Health is focused on keeping the community informed about the
dangers of Ebola.
However, it is also essential that everyone understand the way you can
be infected
with Ebola is through direct contact with someone who has been infected
with Ebola and is
showing symptoms. The likelihood of that situation for most U.S.
citizens is very remote.
A person infected with Ebola can’t spread the disease until symptoms
appear
The time from exposure to when signs or symptoms of the disease appear
(the incubation
period) is 2 to 21 days, but the average time is 8 to 10 days. Signs of
Ebola include fever (higher
than 101.5°F) and symptoms like severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting,
diarrhea, stomach
pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.
Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood and body fluids
Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous
membranes) with
• Blood and body fluids (like urine, feces, saliva, vomit, sweat, and
semen)
of a person who is sick with Ebola.
• Objects (like needles) that have been contaminated with the blood or
body fluids of a person sick with Ebola.
Ebola is not spread through the air, water, or food.
Protect yourself against Ebola
There is no FDA-approved vaccine available for Ebola. Experimental
vaccines and treatments
for Ebola are under development, but they have not yet been fully
tested for safety or
effectiveness.
To protect yourself from Ebola
• DO wash your hands often with soap and water
or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Do NOT touch the blood or body fluids (like urine, feces, saliva,
vomit, sweat, and semen) of people who are sick.
• Do NOT handle items that may have come in contact with a sick
person’s blood or body fluids, like clothes, bedding, needles, or
medical equipment.
• Do NOT touch the body of someone who has died of Ebola.
What to do if you are exposed to Ebola
If you have traveled to an area with an Ebola outbreak or had close
contact with a person
sick with Ebola, you may be at risk if you
• Had direct contact with blood or body fluids or items that came into
contact with blood or body fluids from a person with Ebola.
• Touched bats or nonhuman primates (like apes or monkeys) or blood,
fluids, or raw meat prepared from these animals.
• Went into hospitals where Ebola patients were being treated and had
close contact with the patients.
• Touched the body of a person who died of Ebola.
You should check for signs and symptoms of Ebola for 21 days
• Take your temperature every morning and evening.
• Watch for other Ebola symptoms, like severe headache, muscle pain,
vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.
• Call your doctor even if you do not have symptoms. The doctor can
evaluate your exposure level and any symptoms and consult with public
health authorities to determine if actions are needed.
During the time that you are watching for signs and symptoms, you can
continue your normal
activities, including going to work.
If you get sick after you come back from an area with an Ebola outbreak
• Get medical care right away if you have a fever (higher than 101.5°F),
severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or
unexplained bruising or bleeding.
• Tell your doctor about your recent travel to West Africa or contact
with a person who was sick with Ebola and your symptoms
BEFORE you go to the doctor’s office or emergency room. Calling
before you go to your doctor’s office or emergency room will help the
doctor or emergency room care for you and protect other people who
may be in the office or emergency room.
Get Your Flu Shot:
While Ebola is much more lethal then the seasonal flu, individuals
should
remember that we will have thousands of deaths in the United States
this winter
because those with weakened immune systems or those who are in poor
health
failed to get a flu shot.
Now is the time for all individuals older than 6 months to get their
flu shots.
The early signs of Ebola are similar to the early signs of flu. Get
your flu shot
now, and reduce the fear you might experience if you were to suddenly
to have
flu-like symptoms.
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