Emergency Managers Plan for Ebola Response

Here’s a message from the County Health Department. Let’s hope we don’t need this here…

San Juan County’s Health and Community Services Department has established a multi-agency command system to insure medical care providers and local government agencies are prepared, should a suspected case of Ebola virus disease be reported here.

Dr. Frank James, San Juan County’s Health Officer, and Dr. Mike Sullivan Emergency Medicine Department Chair of the Peace Island Medical Center and medical program coordinator for several emergency response agencies are handling outreach to local health providers.

“To date, we have had no reports of Ebola virus disease, or of anyone returning here from affected countries,” said San Juan County Environmental Health Manager Kyle Dodd, “But we need to be ready to respond quickly and appropriately to protect the public, insure the safety of our first responders and medical personnel, and to provide the best possible medical care for anyone returning to our County who may have been exposed.”

The planning group involves: San Juan County’s Health and Emergency Management Departments, Administration, Fire and Emergency Medical Services. The group is working to insure that local health care providers and emergency responders are informed about infection control and proper personal protective equipment use. In addition, transportation of patients and restriction of movement, isolation and monitoring plans are being developed with guidance from the State Department of Health and the CDC.

County Emergency Management Director Brendan Cowan highlighted the value of the planning process for any emergency, but especially Ebola. “The effort underway is valuable for lots of reasons,” said Cowan, “But most importantly because it’s bringing a diverse group of people and agencies together now who will have to work cooperatively in an actual response. That’s a critical part of this process.”

County Health Officials note that people who should be concerned about Ebola exposure are those who have traveled to Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone or had contact with a person with confirmed Ebola virus disease within the previous 21 days. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone with this recent travel or contact history who is displaying these symptoms should call their health care provider, and San Juan County Health & Community Services.

More information about Ebola, its risks and symptoms is available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/

If you have any questions, contact San Juan County Health and Community Services at 378-4474.

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