Diseases & Topics
Hemorrhagic Fever
Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) are caused by several kinds of viruses and are found across the world. Each virus is associated with one or more nonhuman hosts that carry and transmit disease, usually restricting the virus and the disease it causes to the areas where these species live.
People usually contract these diseases directly from infected animals such as rodents or monkeys, or through vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks. Once a person is infected with a VHF, person-to-person transmission is also possible and can result in large human outbreaks.
The risk of acquiring VHF is very low for most international travelers. People at increased risk for exposure to a VHF include those engaging in animal research, health-care workers, and others providing care for patients in the community, particularly where outbreaks of VHF are occurring. Those who work or explore in caves are also at risk from exposure to infected bats.
Prevention depends on the type of virus and the specific vectors or hosts that carry them.
For Additional Information
- Ebola Contact Tracing Documents
- Ebola Guidance for North Carolina Providers and Laboratories (PDF, 260KB) - 11/21/14
- North Carolina Ebola Guidance for Non-hospital Settings (PDF, 239KB) - 11/21/14
- Ebola: Recommendations for Firefighters and Law Enforcement Personnel (PDF, 137KB) - 11/12/14
- Interim Guidance on Cleanup and Decontamination in the Non-medical Setting (PDF, 102KB) - 11/25/14
- CDC: Guidance for Safe Handling of Human Remains of Ebola Patents in U.S. Hospitals and Mortuaries

- Disposal of blood and body fluids as regulated medical waste by sanitary sewer systems (PDF, 843KB) - 10/17/14
- Provider Algorithm for Ebola Risk Assessment (PDF, 2.6MB) - 11/20/14
- Screen, Isolate, Call: Ambulatory Care Evaluation of Patients with Possible Ebola (PDF, 329KB) - 11/20/14
- Local Health Department Guidance for Evaluation and Management of Persons with Potential Ebola Virus Exposure (PDF, 130KB) - 10/30/14
- Protocols on Suspected Ebola Cases to EMS Agencies and First Responders (PDF, 964KB)
- Donning and Doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Ebola Isolation Units (YouTube Video)
- Ebola Personal Protective Equipment Guidance: Healthcare Personnel Monitor Log for Use in Hospital Ebola Isolation Units (PDF, 134KB) (Word, 29KB) - 11/7/14
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Hospital Ebola Isolation Units:
Donning Checklist (PDF, 370KB) (Word, 26KB) - 11/7/14
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Hospital Ebola Isolation Units:
Doffing Checklist (PDF, 408KB) (Word, 34KB) - 11/7/14
- Donning of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Poster, for Use in Hospital Ebola Isolation Units (PDF, 50KB) - 11/7/14
- Doffing of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Poster, for Use in Hospital Ebola Isolation Units (PDF, 55KB) - 11/7/14
- Travel Advisory for Patient Waiting Rooms and Triage Areas -
English (PDF, 265KB), French (PDF, 97KB), Spanish (PDF, 131KB)
- Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Screening Form (PDF, 140KB)

- N.C. Preparedness FAQs (PDF, 103KB)
- Ebola FAQs for West African Communities (PDF, 343KB) - updated 01/14/15
- College, University, and Local Health Department Ebola Awareness
- CDC: Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, 2014

- CDC: Viral hemorrhagic fevers

- NC DHHS: Vector-Borne Diseases
- NC DHHS: Zoonotic Diseases