International Journal of Infectious Diseases
December 2015 Volume 41, In Progress
http://www.ijidonline.com/issue/S1201-9712%2815%29X0012-9

.
Addressing contact tracing challenges—critical to halting Ebola virus disease transmission
Ashley L. Greiner, Kristina M. Angelo, Andrea M. McCollum, Kelsey Mirkovic, Ray Arthur, Frederick J. Angulo
p53–55
Published online: November 4 2015
Open Access
Abstract
The 2014–2015 Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak is the largest in history and the first in West Africa. Many factors underlie the extensive transmission of EVD, particularly delayed and ineffective contact tracing. Contact tracing is a key component to halting the epidemic and getting to zero cases; it includes identifying, locating, and assessing people (known as contact-persons) who have been exposed to a symptomatic EVD case patient.1 Contact-persons are then systematically followed during the maximum Ebola virus incubation period of 21 days, to allow for immediate identification and prompt isolation if they become symptomatic, preventing onward transmission.