With the Ebola scare littering the national news, it is
important to understand the disease itself as well as the outbreak risks –
especially here in the United States.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Director Tom Frieden, the virus can be stopped but not cured. The current
crisis in Africa partially stems from a poor public health structure. That
means there is not a solid method for containment of any such infectious
disease. Because of this, the World Health Organization has declared this recent
Ebola outbreak the worst in at least four decades since they have been tracking
the disease.
Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe illness which is often
fatal for humans. It is a viral infection that causes a sudden onset of fever,
intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, and sore throat. Further symptoms
include vomiting, diarrhea, kidney and liver impairment, and often internal and
external bleeding.
It is transmitted through close contact with bodily fluids
such as blood, sweat, saliva, and urine. Of interest, cultures where there are “laying
of hands” on the deceased person can also promote the transmission of Ebola.
As most people know, two Americans who were on a mission
trip to Africa at the time of the outbreak did contract the disease. It was decided
that the best way to help them was to bring them back to the states in a highly
quarantined manner in order to give them a fighting chance at survival. Ebola
is not curable, but the CDC is using experimental serum treatments in an effort
to repress the Ebola virus. If you’ve been watching the news, then you are well
aware that the treatment seems to be effective – for now.
The real questions from the general public are: 1) How safe was
it to bring Ebola into our country, and 2) Could it potentially spread?
The Safety Precautions:
The U.S. Department of State noted that this is the first
time Ebola – a highly contagious disease – has been brought into the United
States, so concerns are warranted. The transport of the two Americans from Liberia
to the United States was a fast one. They were attended to by highly trained
doctors and nurses during the flight, in which the couple was placed in separate
Aeromedical Biological Containment Systems. This system prevents air flow
outside of the system – keeping all bodily fluids from escaping and potentially
infecting others.
The couple is being treated at Emory University Hospital in
Atlanta, also the location of the CDC. Again, the room in which they are quarantined
is a much like a larger version of the Aeromedical Biological Containment
System. Airflow does not extend outside the walls, and strict precautions and
protection protocols prohibit any fluids from exiting the room on any of the
medical personnel treating them. Highly trained doctors, nurses and staff will wear
Haz-Mat –style protective gear, including oxygen tanks, to attend to the two
people. To ensure the disease will not spread, the hospital issued this public
statement:
"Emory University Hospital physicians, nurses
and staff are highly trained in the specific and unique protocols and
procedures necessary to treat and care for this type of patient. For this
specially trained staff, these procedures are practiced on a regular basis
throughout the year so we are fully prepared for this type of situation."
Potential Outbreak in
the US:
It is highly unlikely that we will see an Ebola outbreak in
the United States as a result of these two people being treated in Atlanta. So
far, all measures have been successful in containing the disease within the containment
room at Emory. Strict protocols and adherence to the CDC’s procedures will keep
it this way. The fact that Emory University is closely connected to the CDC
helps escalate the level of protections and overall security of our nation’s health.
Outside of this particular incidence, federal law prohibits infectious
diseases to cross the border via human carriers. If someone might carry such a
disease, CDC agents will examine the person(s) and detain them if there is a potential
threat. The same is true of crossing state lines. The Public Health title of
the Code of Federal Regulations allows for “inspection, fumigation,
disinfection, sanitation, pest extermination and destruction of animals or
articles believed to be sources of infection.”
CDC agents are routinely stationed at airports and
transportation centers to thwart such threats. Right now, flights in and out of
the affected areas are suspended in an effort to contain the virus and keep it
from spreading further.
Therefore, safety for United States citizens is solid. At
this time, Ebola is an unlikely threat on this side of the world.
Works used for this post:
Karimi, F. (2014). WHO: Ebola outbreak in West Africa an
international health emergency. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/08/health/ebola-outbreak/.
World Health Organization. (2014). Ebola virus disease.
Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/.
Lane, S. (2014). Here’s why it’s safe to bring Ebola
patients to the U.S. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2014/08/01/ebola-united-states-law/
