Ebola Prevention
Ebola can be prevented. Following evidence-based WHO, Africa CDC, and MSF protocols dramatically reduces infection risk at the individual, household, and community level. This guide covers all prevention measures — from basic hygiene to ring vaccination strategy.
Core Prevention Measures
Avoid Contact with Infected Individuals
- › Do not touch a person showing Ebola symptoms
- › Avoid direct contact with blood, vomit, faeces, urine, saliva, or sweat
- › Maintain physical distance from suspected or confirmed cases
- › Do not handle clothing, bedding, or objects that may be contaminated
- › Avoid participating in traditional rituals involving deceased individuals
- › Keep children away from treatment centres and isolation areas
Practice Rigorous Hand Hygiene
- › Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
- › Use alcohol-based sanitiser (≥60% ethanol) when soap unavailable
- › Wash hands before eating, after using the toilet, after any patient contact
- › After removing gloves or PPE, immediately perform hand hygiene
- › Use chlorinated water (0.05%) for routine handwashing in outbreak zones
- › Hand hygiene is the single most effective preventive measure in community settings
Follow Safe and Dignified Burial Protocols
- › Bodies of Ebola patients remain highly infectious after death — higher viral load than living patients
- › Never touch a deceased person without full PPE and proper training
- › Immediately contact a trained Safe and Dignified Burial (SDB) team
- › WHO-approved burial protocols include body bag sealing, disinfection, and documentation
- › SDB teams are deployed by MSF, UNICEF, and national health ministries during outbreaks
- › Cultural burial practices involving washing/touching the body must be suspended during outbreaks
Vaccination — Get Protected if Eligible
- › rVSV-ZEBOV (Ervebo®, Merck) — WHO-prequalified for Zaire ebolavirus since 2019
- › Over 300,000 people vaccinated in DRC since 2018; ~97.5% efficacy in ring vaccination trials
- › Deployed as ring vaccination: contacts and contacts-of-contacts of confirmed cases
- › Single-dose vaccine; immunity develops within 10 days
- › No approved vaccine for Sudan, Bundibugyo, or Taï Forest ebolavirus strains
- › Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo (Zabdeno+Mvabea, Janssen) approved in EU — 2-dose schedule
- › Contact your national health authority or WHO country office to check eligibility
Travel Safety & Community Precautions
- › Avoid non-essential travel to areas with active Ebola outbreaks
- › Monitor WHO, CDC, Africa CDC, and ECDC travel health advisories before travel
- › Avoid contact with wild animals (bats, primates) and bushmeat in endemic regions
- › Report any fever, headache, or illness within 21 days of returning from an outbreak area
- › At border crossings: cooperate with health screening, temperature checks, and contact forms
- › Inform your healthcare provider of any recent travel to affected regions before seeking care
Who Is at Risk?
- › Healthcare workers treating EVD patients
- › Direct family caregivers of confirmed cases
- › Burial team members without full PPE
- › Laboratory staff handling Ebola samples
- › Contacts of confirmed cases in same household
- › Traditional healers treating suspected EVD patients
- › Travellers to active outbreak zones
- › Community health workers in affected areas
- › Residents of outbreak-affected communities
- › Emergency responders in affected regions
- › Health facility workers in outbreak districts (non-EVD wards)
- › People who attended same gathering as confirmed case
- › General population in non-outbreak regions
- › Travellers to countries with no active outbreak
- › Healthcare workers outside affected regions
- › People who had casual contact with a confirmed case prior to symptom onset
If You May Have Been Exposed — Immediate Action Protocol
If you have had close contact with a confirmed Ebola patient or their bodily fluids, follow these steps immediately. Time is critical.
Healthcare Workers — Full PPE Requirements
WHO-recommended PPE for all healthcare workers in Ebola Treatment Units (ETU) or providing direct care to suspected/confirmed EVD patients.
- ✓ Full body impermeable coverall
- ✓ Double gloves (outer + inner nitrile)
- ✓ Head cover + hood
- ✓ N95/FFP2 respirator or PAPR
- ✓ Eye protection: goggles + face shield
- ✓ Impermeable gown or apron
- ✓ Boot covers or rubber boots
- 1. Perform hand hygiene
- 2. Put on inner gloves
- 3. Put on coverall / gown
- 4. Put on N95 respirator
- 5. Put on goggles/face shield
- 6. Put on hood / head cover
- 7. Put on boot covers
- 8. Put on outer gloves over cuffs
- 9. Inspect with buddy — no gaps
- 1. Disinfect outer gloves
- 2. Remove boot covers
- 3. Remove outer gloves
- 4. Perform hand hygiene
- 5. Remove gown / coverall (roll inside-out)
- 6. Remove face shield / goggles
- 7. Perform hand hygiene
- 8. Remove N95 respirator (do not touch front)
- 9. Remove inner gloves + hand hygiene
Community-Level Prevention Measures
Ensure suspected cases are isolated in a dedicated room with no shared facilities until laboratory results confirm or exclude EVD.
Clean and disinfect all surfaces with 0.5% chlorine solution. Contaminated items (clothing, bedding) should be incinerated or double-bagged.
All contacts of a confirmed case must be traced and monitored for 21 days from last contact. Contact tracing is the backbone of Ebola response.
Public trust is essential. Misinformation spreads as fast as the virus. Community health workers and trusted local leaders must communicate accurate information.
Countries with active outbreaks maintain 24/7 alert hotlines. Report suspected cases immediately — early notification saves lives.
During outbreaks, schools and large gatherings may be suspended. Temperature screening at market entrances and public spaces helps detect early cases.