“What are the chances of another Ebola spread in the U.S.?”

Unlikely, but impossible to predict and also difficult to stop if it flares again in Africa. We now have meds and a vaccine should they be needed.

Carl Lauter, MD, MACP

To my knowledge there has been only one "outbreak" of Ebola virus in the US in 2014 including a total of 11 cases with 9 of these contracted the disease outside the US an d inAfrica, traveled to the US and 2 US health care workers were infected caring for some of these patients. Ebola virus outbreaks are mostly in sub-Saharan Africa. the last one was in 2018. Now there is a vaccine.

Very low risk. There is certainly a possibility of our citizens bringing Ebola back from abroad but the chance of it spreading locally is extremely low. Many of the factors that contribute to the outbreak in Congo are not issues in the US. Our public health infrastructure and healthcare system in general will protect our population very well.

Andrew Jameson, MD, FACP, AAHIVS
Division Chief-Infectious Diseases
Medical Director-Infection Control
Mercy Health Physician Partners
A Member of Trinity Health

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Clerkship Director- Internal Medicine
Michigan State University- CHM
andrew.jameson@mercyhealth.com<mailto:tannera@mercyhealth.com>
W 616.685.8206 P 616.397.3097
310 Lafayette Suite 410
Grand Rapids, MI 49503