Tetra Tech Health & Safety

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Training Objectives

General knowledge of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)

Routes of transmission and symptoms

EVD exposure risk

Office protocols to minimize infectious disease transmission

Ebola belongs to a group of diseases called Viral

Hemorrhagic Fevers (VHF)

(This group also includes Yellow Fever, Lassa Fever, Dengue

Fever and Marburg Fever)

What is Ebola?

EBOLA VIRUS WITH TYPICAL CURLED FILAMENT

The natural virus reservoir is

unknown but it is suspected the

virus resides in bats and infects

monkeys or other non-human

primates through contaminated

food dropped by bats.

Where does it Come From? Humans eat the

intermediate animal

and can become

infected

Spreads human to

human via bodily

fluids

Routes of Transmission

These bodily

fluids are

contagious!

Ebola is spread

through direct

contact through

broken skin or

mucous

membranes in, for

example, the eyes,

nose, or mouth.

The virus spreads person to person through contact with:

Blood

Vomit

Feces

Urine

Nasal secretions

Sweat

Breast Milk

Semen

• The more symptomatic a person is, the

greater the risk of catching the virus from

their body fluids.

• It is possible to become infected by touching

contaminated objects that have germs

from an infected person on them.

– In these cases, germs may accidentally be

transferred into the nose, mouth or eyes, or enter

the blood stream via cuts on the hands.

Routes of Transmission

The time

between

infection and

when a

person starts

to feel ill is 2

to 21 days

The average is

7-9 days

Incubation Period

Symptoms

About 50% to 90% of cases are fatal. The Zaire strain is the most

lethal strain of Ebola – it is responsible for the current Ebola outbreak.

There is no cure for

Ebola – treatment is

considered

supportive therapy

There is no

vaccination for

Ebola

Drug trials for vaccines

and treatments are

underway

Treatment

Where is Ebola?

Outbreak in Guinea,

Liberia, Sierra Leone –

over 4,500 deaths so far

*Experts expect to see further expansion of EVD in West

Africa before the outbreak is under control.

• Nigeria: several cases reported – spread currently contained

• DRC: different strain of Ebola – contained to one geographic area

• US: 1case transported to Dallas, 2 infections transmitted in Dallas, Texas. 1 case transported to NYC

Highest Risk of Exposure:

• Healthcare Workers with needle stick or mucous membrane exposure to body fluids of an EVD patient

• Laboratory workers processing EVD body fluids without appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) or standard biosafety precautions

• Direct care of an EVD patient with out PPE

• Participation in funeral rites which include direct exposure to human remains in the geographic area where an outbreak is occurring without PPE.

Exposure Risk: CDC Interim Guidelines

Some Risk of Exposure:

• Household member with contact with an EVD patient

• Other close contact with EVD patient in health care facilities or community settings

Close Contact:

– Being within ~3 feet (1 meter) of an EVD patient

– Being within a patient’s room or care area for a prolonged period of time (e.g., health care personnel, household members) while not wearing recommended Personal Protective Equipment

– Having direct brief contact (e.g. shaking hands) with an EVD patient while not wearing recommended Personal Protective Equipment

– Brief interactions, such as walking by a person or moving through a hospital, do not constitute close contact

Exposure Risk: CDC Interim Guidelines

No Known Exposure:

• Having been in a country in which an EVD outbreak occurred within the past 21 days with no exposure or symptoms

• Public health authorities will now maintain daily contact with all travelers from the three affected countries for 21 days

Exposure Risk: CDC Interim Guidelines

For the majority of Tetra Tech operations, employees are not at risk of infection with EVD.

For project tasks that may present a risk of exposure, appropriate infection control measures are to be assessed and implemented.

In an abundance of caution, infection prevention and control guidelines are being: implemented in Tt field offices located in Ebola impacted countries

within West Africa

rolled out in offices where there are frequent travelers and visitors

Exposure Risk for Tetra Tech Employees

General Prevention Rules

Stay away from sick people

Pay strict attention to hygiene

• Do not go to funerals or touch dead bodies

• Do not go to hospitals treating Ebola patients

• Do not handle animals or bats

• Do not eat bats or bush meat

In West African Nations impacted by EVD:

• Maintain and support proper hygiene

in the work environment by having

personal hygiene supplies

available (tissues, soap, hand sanitizer,

cleaning supplies, disposable towels)

• Keeping hands clean is one of

the best ways to prevent the

spread of infection and illness!

Protocols to Minimize

Infectious Disease Transmission

Tip: Wash hands for at least 20 seconds. If you need a timer, sing “Happy Birthday” twice!

This is not just about Ebola, there is higher risk of seasonal flu infection

during the next few months.

Protocols to Minimize

Infectious Disease Transmission

• Doorknobs, light switches, elevator buttons, remote controls, handrails

• Computer keyboards and mice, telephones, microphones

• Tables, chairs, coffee makers, and vending machines

Clean surfaces that are regularly touched

• Clean areas that may have been contaminated with other potentially infectious materials with proper EPA registered disinfectants

Implement regular and thorough cleaning of restrooms

When appropriate, arrangements will be made with professional biohazard service providers to disinfect work areas.

• Stay home if you are sick!

• Employees with signs and symptoms of infectious

disease should remain at home until at least 24

hours after they are free of fever (100°F or

greater) without the use of fever reducing

medications.

• Talk to your supervisors so that appropriate

work arrangements can be made.

Work Practice Controls for Infectious Diseases

• Communicating flu prevention and hand washing information

• Reviewing cleanliness and hygiene of common areas and bathrooms – report concerns to facility management.

• Providing hand sanitizer to employees and in public areas • Stocked First Aid Kits are located in key areas accessible

to employees• Designate a space in the office as an isolation area for

symptomatic individuals• If risks of Ebola or other infectious disease transmission

increases in areas outside of West Africa, more aggressive infection prevention measures will be put in place as appropriate.

What are We Doing to Prepare

• If an employee or visitor in the office is suspected to have been exposed to the Ebola virus and shows symptoms of fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or sore throat, instruct the individual to isolate him/herself in a designated office space.

• If an office isolation space is not available, ask someone in the nearest closed office to vacate his/her space or vacate a close by conference room.

• Immediately notify internal H&S personnel and contact the local department of health unit appointed to handle Ebola.

• Let them know there may be a person infected with Ebola in the office to ensure responders are prepared to take necessary precautions.

• Once patient is removed, the Department of Health will arrange for professional haz-mat team to disinfect office.

• All staff will be provided instructions by Department of Health officials.

Have a Plan – Ebola in the Office

• All travel to Ebola affected countries must have prior operations approval and H&S review–only essential travel will be approved.

• H&S Representatives in conjunction with Tetra Tech’s medical surveillance administrator will conduct a health review and briefing for traveler(s) before departure.

• Employees returning from Ebola affected countries will be required to participate in the CDC /Local Health Department’s active post-arrival monitoring program for 21 days.

• If you develop any Ebola like symptoms: fever (temperature of 101.5°F/ 38.6°C), headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, or unexplained bruising or bleeding do not come to work. Immediately call your local health department unit appointed to handle Ebola – Let them know you may be infected with Ebola to ensure proper precautions.

• Inform your supervisor of your health status.

Guidelines for Travelers to and from Ebola

Affected Countries

Airport screenings are taking place both in countries affected by the outbreak and in major international airports

where visitors from affected countries may be arriving.

Expect Delays – Be Patient!

Travel Considerations

Additional Resources on My.TetraTech.com