When this course was first published in 2014, laboratories in the United States and around the world were preparing for the possibility of working with specimens from patients with suspected or diagnosed Ebola virus disease (EVD). On March 29, 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that Ebola in West Africa was no longer a public health emergency of international concern, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Ebola response was deactivated on March 31, 2016. This deactivation does not mean support from the international community ended. CDC and partners remain in the region and CDC staff continue to be deployed internationally to support ongoing efforts to improve detection, response, and prevention. Although localized outbreaks continue to occur in Africa, the epidemic in West Africa (that had the potential to spread to other areas in the world) is over. It remains beneficial for laboratory workers to be aware of the seriousness of this disease and know how to prevent occupationally-acquired infection, if an outbreak should occur again.
This course provides a brief overview of EVD, discusses basic safety guidelines, and provides the resources necessary to maintain and enhance safe laboratory operations. It is critical to always refer to and follow your laboratory's defined policies and procedures. MediaLab, Inc. does not endorse the products or any claims made by the manufacturer of these products that are referred to in this course.
