The recent cases of the Ebola Virus Disease in the United States have undoubtedly caused concern, and the Emergency Management Department is addressing these concerns through education and the dissemination of fact-based information.

To date, there are no suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola in Los Angeles County.

The Ebola Virus Disease (Ebola) outbreak in the West African nations of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia is a tragic situation. The City is monitoring the situation and working with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) in understanding and disseminating the facts about Ebola.

Should a case of Ebola be confirmed in Los Angeles County, the LACDPH will notify the Emergency Management Department (EMD). The City Emergency Operations Center (EOC) will immediately activate to Level I to provide Citywide coordination and to manage all crisis information.

It is important to remember that the risk of contracting Ebola is very low in Los Angeles. Ebola patients can only spread the disease when they have symptoms. A person can get Ebola only when they have direct contact with an infected person’s bodily fluids through broken skin or mucous membranes.

According to a recent statement issued by Jeh Johnson Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the DHS have implemented enhanced screening measures at five airports around the country – New York’s JFK, Newark, Dulles, Atlanta and Chicago. Passengers flying into one of these airports from flights originating in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea are subject to secondary screening and added protocols, including having their temperature taken, before they can be admitted into the United States. These airports account for about 94 percent of travelers flying to the United States from these countries. At present there are no direct, non-stop commercial flights from Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea to any airport in the United States.

In additional, all passengers arriving in the United States whose travel originates in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea will be required to fly into one of the five airports that have the enhanced screening and additional resources in place. DHS is working closely with the airlines to implement these restrictions with minimal travel disruption Impacted travelers should contact the airlines for rebooking for additional information.

Lastly, the DHS has put in place measures to identify and screen anyone at all land, sea and air ports of entry into the United States they believe has been present in Liberia, Sierra Leone or Guinea in the preceding 21 days.

The following websites provide more information about the Ebola Virus Disease:

The City Emergency Management Department will provide information about the Ebola Virus Disease on their website as updates occur and more information is available.

Visit the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health website for all the fact about the Ebola Virus Disease.