2014/01/01 by Charles N. Haas · 35 citations
Medicine · Health Professions · Social Sciences · #Viral Infections and Outbreaks Research #Disaster Response and Management #Disaster Management and Resilience #Quarantine #Incubation period #Ebola virus #Outbreak #Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) #Period (music) #Transmission (telecommunications) #Medicine #Incubation #Virology #Biology #Disease #Computer science #Infectious disease (medical specialty) #Telecommunications #Internal medicine #Pathology
paper · pdf · doi:10.1371/currents.outbreaks.2ab4b76ba7263ff0f084766e43abbd89
published in PLoS Currents 6 (Public Library of Science)
openalex publication_date 2014/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/22
BACKGROUND: 21 days has been regarded as the appropriate quarantine period for holding individuals potentially exposed to Ebola Virus (EV) to reduce risk of contagion. There does not appear to be a systematic discussion of the basis for this period. METHODS: The prior estimates for incubation time to EV were examined, along with data on the first 9 months of the current outbreak. These provided estimates of the distribution of incubation times. RESULTS: A 21 day period for quarantine may result in the release of individuals with a 0.2 - 12% risk of release prior to full opportunity for the incubation to proceed. It is suggested that a detailed cost-benefit assessment, including considering full transmission risks, needs to occur in order to determine the appropriate quarantine period for potentially exposed individuals.