Unexpected Ebola virus in a tertiary setting: clinical and epidemiologic aspects.

Abstract

To describe the clinical manifestations of viral hemorrhagic fever, and to increase clinicians' awareness and knowledge of these illnesses. Retrospective study of the clinical and laboratory data and management of two cases of Ebola virus infection with key epidemiologic data provided. Two tertiary care hospitals. Two adult patients, the index case and the source patient, both identified as having Ebola, one of whom originated in Gabon. One patient was admitted to the intensive care unit. The other was managed in a general ward. Clinical and laboratory data are reported. One patient, a healthcare worker who contracted this illness in the course of her work, died of refractory thrombocytopenia and an intracerebral bleed. The source patient survived. Despite a long period during which the diagnosis was obscure, none of the other 300 contacts contracted the illness. Identification of high-risk patients and use of universal blood and body fluid precautions will considerably decrease the risk of nosocomial spread of viral hemorrhagic fevers.