The Center for Disease Control has a procedure for U.S.
hospitals that take care of Ebola virus victims. First they give a list of
possible symptoms such as high body temperature, severe headache, vomiting, and
diarrhea. However these symptoms are only relevant when the patient has come
into contact with blood or other bodily fluids from someone is known or suspected
of having Ebola, or lives/has traveled to an area where the disease is
prominent. The CDC recommends that the person testing the patient follow all safety
precautions and wear the Proper Protective Equipment (PPE). They should also be
sure to be cautious when transporting the patient or their bodily fluids
throughout the hospital to avoid spills or any other incidents. If the results come
back positive, the patient is to be isolated, no visitors, and all those
interacting with the patient must have on the necessary PPE. The hospital also
needs to enforce environmental infection control measures. The Ohio Department
of Health is working with the CDC so that procedures can be the same all across
the country. Since an Ohio native who lives in Dallas was recently suspected of
having the virus and has recently been in Akron, the ODH is looking for anybody
she has come in to contact with in order to verify she did not spread the
virus, and if she did they can contain the people and stop it from spreading. The
CDC sent an agency liaison to Ohio after her flight so they could communicate
everything that was going on and to keep everybody on the same page. Having
everyone on the same page is vital, especially with a situation like this where
thousands of people’s lives are at stake. The procedures don’t differ since the
ODH just follows the CDC’s, so the CDC’s procedure is the best by default.
