On Oct. 27, 2014, the CDC released guidelines for monitoring people in the U.S. who potentially had been exposed to Ebola. This involved risk categorizing the person, monitoring him or her daily during the virus’ 21-day incubation period and possible movement restrictions for people in selected risk categories.
This monitoring was carried out by the 50 states, the District of Columbia, New York City, five U.S. territories and three freely associated states.
During a given reporting week, a median of 20 people who were being monitored reported Ebola-compatible symptoms. Of the total of those, 39 were tested for Ebola, and none tested positive.
Additionally, less than 1 percent of monitoring was left incomplete, according to the CDC. Reasons for not completing the full 21-day monitoring process included incorrect contact information, logistical issues and noncompliance by persons being monitored.
The CDC labeled this large-scale monitoring process a success. “Jurisdictions demonstrated public health capacity to rapidly conduct and effectively monitor thousands of persons over a sustained period,” the report reads. “Given the complexity and amount of coordination of effort required, the Ebola monitoring program in the United States provided systemic evidence of the capability of state, territorial and local health departments to ensure and protect the health of the U.S. public.”
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