HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Members of the Reno County Health Community met this week to review readiness procedures for public health emergencies. That could include a possible out break of Ebola.
Here are some things to know about this Ebola. A person infected with the Ebola virus is not contagious until symptoms appear. That would include a fever of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, severe headache, muscle pain, fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, or unexplained hemorrhage.
The virus is spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids of an infected person. In other words, its not spread through the air of by water.
The CDC had been working with healthcare systems to determine how to detect and isolate patients who may have Ebola and how to protect themselves from infection.
Early recognition of Ebola is important in providing appropriate patient care and preventing the spread of the infection. Healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and the family and friends in close contact with Ebola patients are at the highest risk of getting sick, and they are more likely to come in contact with the blood or body fluids of sick patients.
Health officials says it is very important that if a person is having symptoms of Ebola and seeking medical care that they immediately notify the healthcare facility where they are seeking care on whether they have traveled to another country that is experiencing the Ebola epidemic, or a surrounding country. Also they should let them know if they were exposed to an Ebola patient.
There is no vaccination for Ebola and travel to areas affected by the Ebola outbreak is being discouraged.
Health officials remind residents use good health care practices to stay healthy and prevent the spread of disease.
That includes washing your hands, use alcohol hand rub to clean your hands if soap and water are not available and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, cough and sneeze in your elbow or in a tissue.
It is always wise to get a flu shot and get plenty of rest, exercise, drink plenty of water and eat healthy.
But, if you get sick, stay home.
For more on Ebola, go to www.cdc.gov.