Connecticut State Department of Public Health

COVID-19 Community Levels Update, March 17, 2023: The CDC has listed all eight Connecticut counties in the Low/Green category as part of its weekly Community Levels update. People who are at a high risk for severe illness should consider additional measures to minimize their exposure to COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses. Visit the CDC COVID-19 Community Levels Map for updates.


Please visit covidtests.gov to request four free COVID-19 self-test kits from the Federal Government. Find a location that has a supply of COVID-19 therapeutics as part of the Test to Treat initiative here. The complete DPH COVID-19 toolbox is located at ct.gov/coronavirus.

Ebola Virus Disease

 
Ebola is a deadly disease caused by infection with one of the Ebola viruses. The viruses are found in some African countries. Ebola outbreaks in Africa have happened sporadically since 1976. The largest outbreak of Ebola began in March 2014 with many cases reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides up to date information about current and recent outbreaks.
 
Ebola viruses can spread from person-to-person. This happens through direct contact with body fluids like blood, saliva, urine and sweat from someone who is infected and has symptoms. Direct contact means that the infected fluids enter the body through the eyes, nose, mouth or an open wound. It is also possible to get Ebola when there is direct contact with something that was contaminated with infected body fluids, like a needle or syringe. In Africa, direct contact with the blood, body fluids and tissues of animals infected with the virus might also cause illness.

Symptoms of Ebola include fever, severe headache, fatigue, sore throat, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle pain, and weakness. Symptoms appear within 2 to 21 days after exposure to the virus (average 8 to 10 days). An infected person can only spread the virus after symptoms begin. It is possible to recover from Ebola infection with good supportive clinical care and healthy immune response. After recovery, antibodies to the Ebola virus will last for 10 or more years. Survivors are thought to have some protective immunity to the type of Ebola that sickened them. There is also a vaccine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration that can help to prevent one type of Ebola virus disease.

On September 20, 2022, the Ugandan Ministry of Health confirmed an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Mubende District, in western Uganda. This outbreak is caused by the Sudan ebolavirus species. The Ugandan Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, CDC and other partners are working to contain the outbreak. Based on available evidence, the FDA approved vaccine is not effective against this type of Ebola virus. More information about this outbreak is available from CDC.

What steps is Connecticut taking to prevent Ebola in our state?

Steps taken to identify and respond to potential Ebola cases include:
 
  • In accordance with CDC recommendations, the Department of Public Health (DPH) works with local health departments to monitor the health of people returning from countries with Ebola outbreaks.
  • The DPH State Laboratory is prepared to facilitate Ebola virus diagnostic testing.
  • DPH is working with hospitals to ensure their readiness to detect, protect, and respond to patients infected with or suspected of having Ebola virus.
 
Information From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
 
 
 
 
  
  Last updated 10/18/2022.
 
 
 
To contact the Epidemiology and Emerging Infections Program, please call 860-509-7994.