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Dear Colleagues,
We are writing to let you know that, due to the fast-evolving situation regarding the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, Johns Hopkins has developed guidance that will help protect the health and safety of our patients and their families, our visitors, workers and communities.
In short, the guidance urges all Johns Hopkins faculty, staff and students not to travel to areas affected by the outbreak until further notice. These areas are Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
The reason: The possible consequences of travel to these countries are particularly serious in view of the virulence of Ebola, the intensive community and health-facility transmission patterns, and the undeveloped health systems currently in these countries.
The potential for someone in our community to acquire Ebola and place others, especially our patients, in danger, weighed heavily in our decision to craft this guidance.
The guidance has the following provisions:
University Faculty and Staff (excluding School of Medicine)
All faculty and staff must notify their dean and department chair prior to departure. In addition, they must register travel plans via the Johns Hopkins International Travel Registry (JHITR).
School of Medicine Faculty, Staff, Students and Trainees, and Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System Staff
All faculty, staff, students and trainees must request permission from their dean, department chair or supervisor prior to departure. In addition, they must sign a waiver and register in JHITR. School of Medicine faculty, staff, students and trainees may not participate in direct clinical care or be in a clinical care environment until cleared by Occupational Health. Although each circumstance will be considered individually, those returning from an endemic area and considered as having "high-risk exposures" by Occupational Health/Student Health, will not be allowed to engage in patient care for 21 days. Those considered at low or moderate risk will be monitored according to an individualized plan by Occupational Health for up to 21 days.
Graduate Students/Trainees (not School of Medicine and not involved in clinical care)
Graduate students must notify their dean and department chair. In addition, they must sign a waiver, complete a travel checklist and register in JHITR.
Undergraduate Students (not including medical students)
Undergraduate students must petition for approval to travel to all countries with travel warnings or advisories. Such travel requires preapproval from the student's parents, advisor, school dean, director of study abroad and the JHU chief risk officer. Undergraduate students must register their trip in JHITR.
ALL TRAVELERS
Upon Return
Based on risk, Occupational Health, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Infection Control will make a determination about type of exposure and determine if an employee can return to work or would need to work from home in quarantine. Unless otherwise stated, all individuals must be authorized to return to school or work by Occupational Health or Student Health, as appropriate. Travelers must contact Student Health or Occupational Health upon their return for further instructions and follow the CEPAR interim guidance for returning travelers. In addition, all persons traveling to these areas must record a symptom/fever diary daily for 21 days upon their return and notify Occupational Health or Student Health if any symptoms develop. Anyone with a CDC-defined high risk exposure is not to return to school or work for 21 days following the exposure. If you develop Ebola-related symptoms, contact Occupational or Student health immediately by phone.
We greatly appreciate each of you taking the time to review the entire guidance. Following this guidance is the right thing to do as members of an institution deeply committed to medicine and public health, and to our communities' health and safety.
Sincerely,
Gabor D. Kelen, M.D.
Director, Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response
Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
Emergency Physician-in-Chief, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Trish M. Perl, M.D., M.Sc.
Professor of Medicine and Pathology
Senior Epidemiologist
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