Speak To An Expert
Get clear, personalised advice for your situation.
Jot down a few questions to make the most of your conversation.
If you think Ebola exposure happened at home
If you have been in close contact with someone who may have Ebola, treat it as an emergency and seek urgent medical advice straight away. In the UK, call NHS 111 for immediate guidance unless the person is very unwell, in which case call 999.
Do not wait to see if symptoms develop before asking for help. Early advice can protect you, the sick person, and everyone else in the household.
Keep the person isolated
Move the sick person into a separate room if possible and keep them away from other people and pets. Limit contact to one person only, if you must care for them.
Do not share bedding, towels, dishes, or other household items. Keep the room closed as much as possible and avoid unnecessary visits from friends, family, or neighbours.
Use basic infection control
Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after any contact with the person or their surroundings. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
Wear disposable gloves if you need to touch blood, vomit, faeces, urine, or other body fluids. If available, use a face mask and disposable apron, and remove them carefully after use.
Do not clean up body fluids without protection
Ebola can spread through contact with infected body fluids, so avoid direct cleaning unless you have proper protection. If a spill happens, keep other people away from the area.
Follow advice from NHS 111, your local health protection team, or hospital staff about safe cleaning and disposal. Do not use a vacuum cleaner or sweep dry material, as this may spread contamination.
Watch for symptoms and act quickly
Common early symptoms include fever, severe headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain, weakness, and stomach pain. Symptoms can appear suddenly, so keep a close eye on the sick person and on anyone else who may have been exposed.
If the person becomes very drowsy, has trouble breathing, collapses, or starts bleeding, call 999 immediately. Tell the call handler about the possible Ebola exposure so responders can prepare safely.
Follow official UK advice
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy, urgent care centre, or hospital without calling first. Medical teams need to prepare in advance to reduce the risk to others.
Local public health professionals may ask you to stay at home, monitor symptoms, and avoid work, school, or public transport for a period of time. Follow their instructions carefully and keep a record of any symptoms, contacts, and dates of exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you may have been exposed to Ebola, stay home, avoid contact with other people, and contact your local health department or a healthcare provider immediately for instructions. Do not go to a clinic or hospital without calling ahead unless you have been told to do so. Monitor your temperature and symptoms closely.
You should monitor yourself for 21 days after the last possible exposure because Ebola symptoms can appear during this incubation period. Check your temperature twice a day if advised, and watch for fever, headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, or unusual bleeding.
Yes, follow public health guidance to stay away from others as much as possible and limit contact within your household if instructed. Isolation or quarantine instructions depend on the level of exposure and local public health advice, so contact officials right away for exact steps.
No, you should not go to work, school, or public places until public health authorities tell you it is safe. Because Ebola can spread through contact with body fluids, staying home helps protect others while you are being monitored.
Watch for fever, chills, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, rash, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. If any symptoms develop, contact emergency medical services or public health authorities immediately and tell them about the possible Ebola exposure.
Yes, if advised by public health officials, take your temperature twice a day and record the results. Use the same thermometer if possible, and report any fever or symptom changes right away.
Limit close contact, avoid sharing personal items, and follow all instructions from health officials about cleaning, laundry, and bathroom use. If you must be around others, keep distance, wash hands often, and wear a face covering if recommended.
If possible, use a separate bathroom from other household members. If you must share one, clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces after use according to public health guidance, and wash your hands thoroughly every time.
Clean and disinfect surfaces that may be touched by body fluids, and follow the specific disinfectant instructions provided by health authorities. Avoid handling vomit, diarrhea, blood, or other fluids without protective guidance from trained professionals.
Handle laundry with care and only if instructed by public health officials. Avoid shaking dirty linens, keep them away from your body, and wash hands after contact; if any body fluids are present, follow emergency guidance for safe handling.
No, you should avoid preparing food for other people while under monitoring or quarantine guidance. This reduces the risk of spreading infection through contaminated hands or surfaces.
If you develop a fever, immediately call emergency medical services, a healthcare provider, and your local health department, and tell them about the possible Ebola exposure before arriving anywhere. Do not use public transportation or go to a waiting room without instructions.
Seek emergency care immediately if you have fever or other Ebola symptoms, but call ahead first so the facility can prepare and protect staff and others. Follow their instructions for arriving safely and do not walk in unannounced if you can avoid it.
Do not take any medicine, including fever reducers, unless a healthcare professional tells you to do so. Some medicines may mask symptoms or complicate evaluation, so get medical advice first.
Yes, contact your local health department or follow instructions from the person who informed you about the exposure. Public health staff can determine your risk, explain monitoring, and give clear home-care instructions.
No, avoid visitors and nonessential contact while you are being monitored after a possible Ebola exposure. Anyone who must enter the home should be informed of the situation and follow the guidance given by health officials.
Keep personal items separate from other household members if possible, and clean items that may have been contaminated according to public health instructions. Avoid sharing phones, towels, bedding, or utensils.
Follow the disposal instructions given by local health authorities, especially if any waste may be contaminated with body fluids. Do not handle potentially infectious waste without guidance, and wash hands after any disposal task.
Even if you feel fine, you still need to monitor yourself for 21 days and follow all public health instructions because symptoms can appear later. Stay alert for any change in health and report symptoms immediately if they develop.
The most reliable instructions come from your local health department, your healthcare provider, and national public health agencies. Follow their advice exactly, since recommendations can vary based on the type of exposure and your location.
Ergsy Search Results
This website offers general information and is not a substitute for professional advice.
Always seek guidance from qualified professionals.
If you have any medical concerns or need urgent help, contact a healthcare professional or emergency services immediately.
Some of this content was generated with AI assistance. We've done our best to keep it accurate, helpful, and human-friendly.
- Ergsy carefully checks the information in the videos we provide here.
- Videos shown by Youtube after a video has completed, have NOT been reviewed by ERGSY.
- To view, click the arrow in centre of video.
- Most of the videos you find here will have subtitles and/or closed captions available.
- You may need to turn these on, and choose your preferred language.
- Go to the video you'd like to watch.
- If closed captions (CC) are available, settings will be visible on the bottom right of the video player.
- To turn on Captions, click settings.
- To turn off Captions, click settings again.