Establishment of an ebola treatment unit and laboratory — Bombali District, Sierra Leone, July 2014–January 2015

What is already known on this topic? Many areas of West Africa have successfully controlled the Ebola outbreak at a local level through interventions, including establishment of laboratories and Ebola treatment units (ETUs) for testing and treating Ebola. Bombali was among the hardest hit districts in Sierra Leone during the Ebola epidemic, but outbreak control was achieved. What is added by this report? Data from the viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) database demonstrated measurable improvements in timeliness of Ebola control measures in Bombali after the establishment of a local ETU and laboratory amidst ongoing community interventions. After establishment of the ETU and laboratory in Bombali, statistically significant reductions in the mean interval from symptom onset to laboratory result, from specimen collection to laboratory result, from patient isolation to laboratory result, and from symptom onset to case investigation were noted. What are the implications for public health practice? The VHF database can be used to analyze epidemiologic indicators both in real time and longitudinally to guide Ebola response efforts. Pre-positioning of laboratory capacity and health facilities that can be used for Ebola testing, isolation, and treatment during an outbreak might hasten outbreak control.