According to CDC director Thomas Frieden, the maximum incubation period for the Ebola virus (that is, the time interval from infection with the virus to onset of symptoms) is 21 days. That is the length of period CDC is monitoring people who are at risk of contracting the Ebola virus.
Once we find contacts we take temps &ask about symptoms. 2x/day for 21 days after exposure longest it can take for #Ebola to appear #CDCchat
— Dr. Robert R. Redfield (@CDCDirector) October 2, 2014
The 48 original contacts of #Ebola index patient have passed high risk period & remain symptom-free. We monitor for 21 days but are hopeful.
— Dr. Robert R. Redfield (@CDCDirector) October 14, 2014
Ppl don’t start showing symptoms of #Ebola right away. It can take up to 21 days. Ppl may travel & arrive before they have any symptoms.
— CDC Travel Health (@CDCtravel) October 11, 2014
Contact tracing = finding everyone who comes in direct contact w/ sick #Ebola patient & checking for signs of illness every day for 21 days.
— CDC (@CDCgov) October 3, 2014
Even Nina Pham’s dog is being monitored for 21 days:
Dallas #Ebola pt's dog to be cared for in isolation for 21 days: http://t.co/lZA372u9w3
— Meg Tirrell (@megtirrell) October 14, 2014
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But what if Ebola patients can remain asymptomatic for more than 21 days? It’s not the norm, but it does happen, according to a statement released yesterday by the World Health Organization:
Recent studies conducted in West Africa have demonstrated that 95% of confirmed cases have an incubation period in the range of 1 to 21 days; 98% have an incubation period that falls within the 1 to 42 day interval.
We sure would like to hear more about those “recent studies.”
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