October 23, 2014

Undoubtedly, you've heard about the Ebola outbreak in West African countries. In Greater Cincinnati, health care providers are working quickly and closely with public health officials and health systems across the state and nation to be ready to handle any possible cases in the future.

How are Hospitals Preparing?

First, we're helping the public learn what Ebola is and isn't. Ebola is a virus, causing symptoms that include fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness and digestive illnesses. Symptoms may appear two to 21 days after exposure.

Ebola is not a respiratory disease like the flu and is not transmitted through the air, food or water. Rather, it is transmitted through contact with fluids of an infected person, or though exposure to objects contaminated by them.

Conducting Careful Screenings

Second, we're giving our patient care staffs specialized training so they can identify new patients who may have been in contact with the disease, whether directly or indirectly.

Following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, our patient care professionals have step-by-step instructions on what to do if they screen someone who has symptoms and meets the travel or contact criteria. These instructions include immediately using protective equipment and isolating the patient for their safety and that of others. There also are procedures in place for testing and managing suspected patients and for notifying public health officials while results are pending.

We Have a Plan in Place

Third, infectious disease control is an important issue in our regional emergency preparedness planning. Every one of our hospitals has infectious disease plans in place, and we continue to review those plans to make sure we're always ready.

Every day, we work hard to help people stay healthy and live better. Planning ahead of the Ebola issue is no exception. To learn more about Ebola and what you can do, visit cdc.gov/ebola.