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Act quickly and get medical advice
If you think you may have been exposed to Ebola or another serious infection, do not wait to see if symptoms develop. Contact a medical professional straight away for advice. In the UK, you should call NHS 111 for urgent guidance, or 999 if you feel very unwell.
Tell them clearly what you think you have been exposed to, when it happened, and where you were. Mention any travel, contact with sick people, or contact with blood or bodily fluids. This information helps them judge the risk and tell you what to do next.
Do not go straight to your GP or A&E without calling first
If a serious infection is possible, healthcare staff need to make plans to keep other people safe. That is why you should phone ahead before going anywhere. They may arrange for you to be seen in a special area or by a specialist team.
Do not use public transport if you have symptoms such as fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, or a rash. If you must travel for urgent care, follow the instructions given by NHS 111, your GP, or the hospital. Try to limit contact with other people as much as possible.
Watch for symptoms and isolate if told to do so
Symptoms of serious infections can include fever, headache, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness, and unusual bleeding. These symptoms can appear days after exposure, depending on the infection. Even if you feel well at first, keep monitoring yourself closely.
If you are advised to stay at home, follow that advice carefully. Avoid close contact with other people, do not share towels or bedding, and wash your hands regularly. If symptoms start or get worse, call again and tell them immediately.
Protect others around you
If you think there is a real chance of a serious infectious disease, try not to touch others or share personal items. Clean any surfaces you may have contaminated, following advice from health professionals. If you have been in contact with blood, vomit, faeces, or other body fluids, mention this when you seek advice.
If other people in your household may also be at risk, tell the clinician on the phone. They can advise whether they need assessment too. Do not try to diagnose yourself online or rely on symptoms alone.
Get help fast if you feel seriously unwell
Call 999 immediately if you have severe breathing difficulty, collapse, confusion, heavy bleeding, or you become too unwell to speak. These are emergency symptoms and need urgent care. Say that you may have been exposed to a serious infection.
After the immediate situation, ask what follow-up you need and whether any monitoring is required. If the exposure happened during travel or work, tell your employer only the facts needed to keep others safe. Prompt action can protect you, your family, and healthcare staff.
Frequently Asked Questions
Move away from the exposure source, avoid touching your face, wash any skin that may have been contaminated with soap and water, remove contaminated clothing carefully, and contact emergency services or your local public health department right away for urgent guidance.
Contact your local health department, your doctor, or emergency services immediately. Tell them you may have had Ebola virus exposure so they can give instructions about monitoring, testing, and safe transport if needed.
Call ahead before going anywhere, including the emergency room, so staff can prepare and protect others. If you have severe symptoms or were exposed through a high-risk event, emergency care may be needed, but you should not arrive unannounced.
Watch for fever, headache, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unusual bleeding or bruising. These symptoms can appear after an incubation period, so follow the monitoring plan given by health officials.
Follow the monitoring period set by public health officials, which is typically up to 21 days after the last possible exposure. Check your temperature and symptoms as instructed and report changes immediately.
Treat fever after possible Ebola exposure as urgent. Isolate yourself from others, avoid public transportation, call public health or emergency medical services immediately, and tell them about the exposure before seeking care.
Do not return to work until a health professional or public health official tells you it is safe. You may be asked to stay home, limit contact with others, and report temperatures and symptoms regularly.
Do not travel without approval from public health officials. Travel can expose others and make monitoring harder, so discuss any necessary movement with health authorities before making plans.
Carefully remove contaminated clothing and place it in a sealed bag if instructed by health officials. Avoid shaking it, wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly, and follow local guidance for cleaning or disposal.
Wash the affected skin immediately with plenty of soap and water. If the exposure involved eyes, nose, or mouth, rinse with clean water or saline and contact medical or public health authorities right away.
Separate yourself from the person, minimize direct contact, use gloves and other protective measures if instructed, and contact public health immediately. Do not share personal items and disinfect contaminated surfaces as directed.
Report the incident immediately to your supervisor, infection prevention team, or occupational health service. Follow exposure protocols, complete incident reporting, and comply with monitoring and work restriction instructions.
Do not self-medicate without medical advice. Some treatments or preventive measures may be considered by specialists, but they should only be used under the direction of public health or infectious disease professionals.
Yes, you may be asked to isolate or limit close contact, depending on the type of exposure and your symptoms. Follow the specific instructions from public health officials exactly, since recommendations can vary.
Family members should avoid unnecessary close contact, follow hygiene precautions, and monitor for symptoms if advised by public health officials. They should also know who to contact if your symptoms change.
Use the protective equipment and hygiene measures recommended by health authorities, avoid direct contact with body fluids, and report any exposure concerns immediately. If you can, have trained professionals take over care.
Some low-risk exposures may be managed at home with active monitoring, but only under public health guidance. Higher-risk exposures or any symptoms require urgent medical evaluation and strict instructions on movement and contact.
Keep a record of the date, time, type of exposure, symptoms, temperature checks, and the names of officials or clinicians you spoke with. This information helps health teams assess your risk and next steps.
Call emergency services immediately if you develop fever or other symptoms after exposure, if you have a high-risk contact with blood or body fluids, or if public health officials tell you to seek urgent care.
Use your local health department, national public health agencies, or a licensed healthcare professional for reliable guidance. Avoid relying on social media or unverified sources for exposure advice.
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