It is important to note that Ebola is not highly contagious like the flu; to the contrary, the virus is spread through direct contact with the blood or body fluids of a symptomatic individual. • The CDC is working closely with Customs and Border Protection and other partners at ports of entry—primarily international airports—to use routine processes to identify travelers who show signs of infectious disease. • The CDC is assisting with exit screening and communication efforts in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes. • Fort Sill’s Reynolds Army Community Hospital has implemented screening procedures of all patients presenting themselves to any of its clinics that establish whether or not they have recently traveled to the affected West African countries and/or whether they knowingly have come in contact with anyone that may have been exposed to EVD through confirmed cases in the US. Answers of yes warrant additional screening and all responses to these questions are annotated in their medical records. Preparedness at Home Despite the tragic epidemic in West Africa, U.S. health professionals agree it is extremely unlikely that we would experience an Ebola outbreak here in the United States, given our robust health care infrastructure and ability to rapidly respond. • The CDC has prepared U.S. healthcare facilities and emergency medical service systems to safely manage a patient with suspected Ebola virus disease. CDC communicates with healthcare workers on an ongoing basis through the Health Alert Network, the Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity, and a variety of other existing tools and mechanisms.
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 19:41:44 +0000
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