Risk in the "Red Zone": Outcomes for Children Admitted to Ebola Holding Units in Sierra Leone Without Ebola Virus Disease

Clin Infect Dis. 2017 Jul 1;65(1):162-165. doi: 10.1093/cid/cix223.

Abstract

We collected data on 1054 children admitted to Ebola Holding Units in Sierra Leone and describe outcomes of 697/1054 children testing negative for Ebola virus disease (EVD) and accompanying caregivers. Case-fatality was 9%; 3/630 (0.5%) children discharged testing negative were readmitted EVD-positive. Nosocomial EVD transmission risk may be lower than feared.

Keywords: Ebola virus disease; children; nosocomial infection; pediatrics; viral hemorrhagic fever.

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / mortality*
  • Cross Infection / therapy
  • Cross Infection / transmission*
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Ebolavirus
  • Female
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / epidemiology
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / mortality*
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / therapy
  • Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola / transmission*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Patient Isolation / statistics & numerical data*
  • Sierra Leone / epidemiology