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| CDC Logo |
In the post titled A Quick Primer on the Ebola Virus
(8/7/2014) we learned about the basics of the current Ebola (EVD) outbreak as
presented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Recently, as the EMS Coordinator for my fire
department, I was asked by my Chief to sift through pages of updates to
determine what is relevant to our daily operations. I also found useful information for the
general public which is the subject of today’s post. I encourage you to visit
the CDC link that is highlighted in this paragraph for a more detailed explanation. Please post any comments or questions you may
have regarding this material, and I will do my best to find the answers.
Facts
about Ebola
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Ebola is not spread through air, water, or
any food grown or legally purchased in the U.S.
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The virus is spread by direct contact
(broken skin, eyes, nose, and mouth) with blood and bodily fluids of a person
who is sick with Ebola.
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Examples include: urine, feces, saliva,
vomit, sweat, and semen.
·
Objects, such as needles that have been
contaminated with same blood/bodily fluids can also spread the virus.
·
There is no current evidence that
mosquitos or other insects can transmit Ebola.
At this time only humans, bats, monkeys, and apes can spread the
disease.
·
A
person who is infected with Ebola cannot spread the disease until symptoms
appear. The
patient who died in Texas showed no symptoms until four days after arrival in
the Dallas from West Africa.
·
The incubation period from time of
exposure is up to 21 days before a person can be considered contagious. The CDC says the average time is around 8 to
10 days.
·
Signs and Symptoms of Ebola are: fever
(greater than 101.5), severe
headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and unexplained
bleeding or bruising.
·
A person is truly contagious when they
begin to shed the disease (bleeding, vomiting, and diarrhea).
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| Map of Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia |
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Keep in mind that many diseases or medical
conditions can also exhibit some of these same signs/symptoms. Currently, your greatest risk for exposure to
Ebola comes from recent travel to any area in West Africa that is affected by
the current outbreak (Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea).
The
Do’s and Do Not’s
The CDC recommends the
following actions as a way to protect oneself against Ebola, especially if you
have to absolutely travel to West Africa.
Most of these recommendations, if practiced, can help reduce the spread
of many contagious illnesses like the flu or common cold.
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Practice good personal hygiene by washing
your hands often with soap and water.
·
Never touch the blood, bodily fluids, or
items contaminated with the same of someone who is sick.
·
Do not touch the body, clothes, or bedding
of someone who has died from Ebola.
·
When
in West Africa: Do not play with monkeys and baboons or
eat any wild meat from the affected regions.
What’s
Being Done
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The CDC and Customs and Border Protection
are conducting the screening of persons who have traveled to the US from the
West African countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
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| Chicago-O'Hare |
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The following airports are involved in the
entry screening: New York’s JFK, Washington-Dulles, Chicago-O’Hare, and Atlanta-Hartsfield.
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The CDC has provided Emergency dispatch
centers across the county with guidelines for screening callers who present
with symptoms that may be Ebola-related.
The questions ask a person about signs, symptoms, and travel history to
and from West Africa.
·
Local hospitals are also following
guidelines for infection control within their facilities with respect to the
Ebola virus. Keep in mind that every
day, healthcare workers deal with infectious diseases/contagious illnesses that
are more common in the US than Ebola (influenza, MRSA, TB, etc.).
·
The training currently being conducted by
persons in the healthcare related fields enhances what they already know about
infection control to include the Ebola Virus.
This training will remind us to continue due diligence with respect to
infectious diseases, and not just the Ebola Virus.
·
The CDC has also released guidelines for
decontamination of ambulance equipment should they transport someone suspected
or confirmed with Ebola. Again, this
enhances what we already know about infection control procedures.
·
Some hospitals have applied to the CDC to
be designated as one(s) that are prepared to accept and treat Ebola patients
should the need arise. They are
currently awaiting confirmation of this status.
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| IDPH |
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The Illinois Department of Public Health
has established a 24-Hour Ebola Hotline that all residents can call to have
questions answered: 1-800-889-3931. If
you do not reside in Illinois, check with your own State’s Public Health
Department to see if a similar hotline exists.
The other day, I attended a meeting
concerning the Ebola virus at my local EMS Region’s office. The Project Medical Director stated that the
response to Ebola is a dynamic process, and can change daily pending further
information that they receive. It was
also related that we should continue to practice good infection control
procedures with every patient we contact.
Especially, since the flu season is right around the corner. This is one of the best actions we can take
to ensure the health and wellbeing of us all.
Until next time:
In Health and Wellness,
Tim
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014). About Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html on 8/6/2014.
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