Why are Ebola patients isolated during treatment?

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Ebolavirus and Ebola virus disease — Ebola Numerous filamentous ebolavirus particles (blue) budding from a chronically-infected VERO E6 cell (yellow-green) in this digitally colorized scanning electron micrograph produced by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Ebola patients are isolated during treatment primarily to prevent the transmission of the Ebola virus to others.12

The virus is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact with the blood or bodily fluids of infected individuals, as well as through contact with surfaces or objects contaminated by those fluids. Because the virus can remain infectious in bodily fluids and on the bodies of deceased victims, strict isolation and infection-control measures—such as barrier nursing and the use of protective equipment—are essential to contain the spread of the disease. By isolating patients in specialized treatment centers, health authorities can effectively manage the care of the infected while minimizing the risk of exposure to the public and healthcare workers.3142