Ebola: How It Affects The Tristates

There’s been a lot of buzz on Ebola.  In fact, people hunting the word in search engines are up over 1,000 percent.  So what is it and should we be worried about it?

This morning we chatted with two guests about the topic.  Dr. Viner, a city health advisor for Dubuque and Infectious Disease Specialist at Dubuque Internal Medicine.  We also talked to Mary Rose Corgan, the Public Health Specialist for the City of Dubuque.

Dr. Viner told me that Ebola is not just a virus but a place.  It’s a tributary of the Kongo River in Africa and the place where the first human outbreak of the virus took place at a mission hospital in 1976.

Since then, there have been several other small outbreaks of this serious virus, always in the Kongo area.

This year’s outbreak started in West Africa over six months ago.  The virus has a high-mortality rate (as high as 80% in Africa).  What’s different this time around is the virus has traveled from a rural area into a very populated city.  It’s been very difficult to organize and get control of the sick and over 3,500 people have already died because of it.

Do we need to worry?  According to Dr. Viner, in the day and age of air travel, we need to be ready for anything.  Cases have popped up from an original traveler from Liberia causing secondary cases in the United States.

Being alert and using the proper precautions is what’s most important right now in keeping it from spreading, especially in the health care environment.

Dr. Viner says he doesn’t feel worried about Ebola spreading through the general population of the United States.  He’s more concerned about public health and containment of the disease.

When asked what our local hospitals are doing about Ebola, Dr. Viner said they’re on the alert in emergency rooms to see if patients have travelled recently (especially to Ebola hotspots).  They are also gearing up for the occasion when they need to isolate a person showing symptoms right away.  They are assembling all the safety equipment and protective gear they need to treat someone.

Just a few days ago, the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) released their latest list of advice and guidelines for personal protective equipment for the care of someone suspected of having Ebola.

Dr. Viner says he’s more fearful of the panic and over-anxiety in the community than he is of the actual virus.

When I asked him the best way to avoid Ebola he said don’t plan any trips to West Africa.  There are travel restrictions being put in place so people coming from West Africa must enter through the country at one of five different airports, so they can more carefully screen passengers.

Another great tip is to GET A FLU SHOT!  Dr. Viner says this is prime time to get your protection up.

When I chatted with Mary Rose Corgan from the city, she said the Ebola scare has made the health department shift their focus.  With all the new info coming in from the CDC and the Iowa Department of Public Health, they’re busy evaluating procedures and plans and what information to pass to the public.

Mary Rose said the likelihood of Ebola developing is pretty low… but could it?  Absolutely.

The city works in conjunction with the county health department and both hospitals.  There’s a Dubuque County Health Care Preparedness Coalition.  This includes the city and county health department, the visiting nurse association, both hospitals and representation from a lot of other community groups including long-term care, clinics, schools, law enforcement, volunteer groups and more.

While there is a preparedness plan in place that includes a section on disease outbreak, there isn’t a specific plan for Ebola.  (They are busy inserting all the new info on the virus into that plan so they are ready to act if it does happen.)

Mary Rose did suggest everyone make their own emergency preparedness kit.  Weather, natural disasters and other health emergencies could occur and this ensures you have proper medications, phone numbers, food, water, flashlights, etc., etc. so you’re ready for anything.

She also recommended you practice good hygiene… particularly good hand washing with soap and water, cough and sneeze etiquette and appropriate vaccines as they’re recommended.

Mary Rose said she’s not overly concerned about an Ebola outbreak in the United States as our cleanliness standards are much higher in our country and we’re taking greater preventative measures.

Also, don’t be overly confident in your hand sanitizers.  She says nothing beats soap and water!

To learn more about Ebola visit the OFFICIAL CDC WEBSITE.  For things going on related to health in the city, you can visit the CITY OF DUBUQUE WEBSITE.

Now, when you’re done reading this, please go wash your hands!

~CMF