CDC Guidance Addresses Heat Burden of Ebola PPE
CDC has published interim guidance on reducing heat-related illness risks for healthcare personnel responding to the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who must wear “fully encapsulating” personal protective equipment. This PPE is made of impermeable material that covers the entire body, which prevents wearers’ exposures to liquids and fine particles that may contain Ebola viruses but reduces the body’s ability to cool itself by sweating, CDC explains. Operational and environmental conditions such as long work shifts, staffing shortages, direct sun exposure, and high temperatures and humidity may also increase heat stress risk. The latter is especially a concern for unacclimated healthcare workers deployed to the two African nations, where the World Health Organization has confirmed more than 2,000 Ebola cases between May 14 and July 15, 2026.
CDC’s interim guidance stresses that organizations must assess factors that increase risk of heat-related illness, such as medical history and medications, among healthcare workers being deployed to international locations to treat Ebola patients. The agency directs site coordinators of medical facilities to monitor environmental conditions and implement acclimatization and work/rest schedules. Site coordinators are also responsible for maintaining and assigning monitors to rest areas, educating personnel about heat-related illness, promoting hydration, and assigning “buddies” to monitor their colleagues for symptoms, CDC states. Healthcare personnel should work with site coordinators to follow acclimatization schedules, stay hydrated, monitor their symptoms and fluid loss, and take breaks to rest and cool down.
In May 2026, WHO confirmed an outbreak of the Bundibugyo species of Ebola virus in the DRC and neighboring Uganda. No vaccine or specific treatment has yet been developed for the Bundibugyo virus. This outbreak is occurring in what WHO describes as “a challenging context,” that includes a humanitarian crisis, a remote but densely populated location, insecurity, and high population and trade movement.
As of WHO’s July 17 update, the Democratic Republic of the Congo had reported a total of 2,124 cases and 828 deaths from Ebola. Uganda had reported 20 confirmed cases, including two deaths, as well as one probable case leading to death. But since no new cases had been identified in Uganda since June 21, the country had entered the 42-day surveillance period required before the end of the outbreak could be declared. France identified a single imported case of Ebola in late June. Two U.S. citizens, a physician and a humanitarian worker, had tested positive for Ebola and been medically evacuated to Germany; the physician recovered and was discharged, while the humanitarian worker was reported to be “in stable condition.”
CDC’s interim guidance for limiting heat burden in Ebola PPE is accessible online. More information on the 2026 Ebola outbreak is available in WHO’s overview, alert and response webpage, and July 17 report.