Ebola case definition

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rim Halaby, M.D. [2]

Overview

Early recognition of Ebola virus disease (EVD) is critical for infection control. Health care providers should be alert for and evaluate any patients suspected of having EVD.

Diagnosis

Person Under Investigation (PUI)

A person who has both consistent symptoms and risk factors as follows:

• Clinical criteria, which includes fever of greater than 38.6 degrees Celsius or 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit, and additional symptoms such as severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained hemorrhage; AND
• Epidemiologic risk factors within the past 21 days before the onset of symptoms, such as contact with blood or other body fluids or human remains of a patient known to have or suspected to have EVD; residence in—or travel to—an area where EVD transmission is active; or direct handling of bats or non-human primates from disease-endemic areas.

Probable Case

A PUI whose epidemiologic risk factors include high or low risk exposure(s)

Confirmed Case

A case with laboratory-confirmed diagnostic evidence of Ebola virus infection