Response to an EVD Outbreak

During this Ebola outbreak, there have been many different names used to describe Ebola Isolation units, including ‘Holding Units’, ‘Isolation Units’, ‘Care Units’ and ‘Care Centres’. For the purposes of this book we use the phrase Ebola Holding Unit to mean a site which: Isolates patients who are screened or otherwise identified as suspected cases of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) Provides initial clinical care for suspected EVD patients Undertakes laboratory testing to confirm the status of suspected EVD cases Refers positive EVD patients to an Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC/ETU) as soon as is possible Can safely store corpses of suspected or positive EVD patients pending collection by a burial team Is ideally co-located with other general health services