Health care professionals in PPE

Outbreaks and Emerging Infectious Diseases

Outbreaks and emerging infectious diseases pose a serious threat to our health care system.

Known infectious diseases can quickly rise to an outbreak level, and new threats can arise suddenly. Lapses in preparedness can leave communities unnecessarily vulnerable. Below are resources to help hospitals, health care coalitions and other organizations prepare for and respond to the diseases that are currently a threat to our world.

The CDC maintains a list of current outbreaks in which they are monitoring and reporting in the U.S. and internationally. 

Mpox

There currently is a global outbreak of mpox affecting multiple countries in which the disease is not endemic, including the U.S. Mpox is a rare disease that is caused by infection with the mpox virus, which belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae. The Orthopoxvirus genus also includes variola virus (which causes smallpox), vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine) and cowpox virus.

Mpox is considered an immediately reportable disease in the State of Missouri. To report a suspected case, hospitals and clinics should contact their local public health agency or the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Bureau of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention at 573-751-6113 or 800-392-0272 (24/7).

The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory will perform an orthopox test, and if it is confirmed positive, specimens will be submitted to the CDC for testing. Instructions for submitting specimens for testing are available.

 

Situational Awareness

Mpox Resources

Ebola

Based on current guidance for evaluating persons with Ebola, if an individual is found to be at risk, then the specified infection control measures must immediately be instituted, and hospital leadership, along with state and local public health officials, must immediately be notified. It is very important that these steps be consistently followed in all emergency departments. To report a suspected Ebola patient call the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services at 573-751-6113 or 800-392-0272 (24 hours a day/seven days a week), and call your local public health agency. Please follow the steps below for patients who present with symptoms and have recently traveled from Uganda.

  • Patients should be placed in an airborne isolation room, if available, and appropriate PPE should be worn during the evaluation process.
  • Hospitals and clinics that identify possible EVD patients should first call either their Local Public Health Department or the DHSS Emergency Resources Center at 573-751-5152 or 800-392-0272.
  • Prior consultation with CDC is required before shipping a specimen to CDC for Sudan virus testing. All specimens collected from patients with suspected EVD must be shipped Category A as a nonselect agent.
  • There is no FDA-licensed vaccine or treatment for Sudan virus, but MBP134, an experimental antibody cocktail therapy, has demonstrated efficacy in nonhuman primates. Supportive treatment can improve chances of survival when provided early.

Ebola Resources

Contact An Expert

Kara Amann Kale

Kara Amann-Kale

Director of Hospital Preparedness Programs

Send Email

573-893-3700 | ext. 1402

Keri Barclay

Keri Barclay

Manager of Clinical Preparedness/Coalition Administrative Liaison

Send Email

573-893-3700 | ext. 1407

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