UK Hospital Says It’s Prepared To Treat Ebola

In the world’s most deadly Ebola outbreak, the World Health Organization says more than 3,000 people have died.  Now, the US has its first Ebola case. 

Two months ago, UK Hospital’s Director for Infection and Prevention said, the hospital started planning for a potential Ebola patient.

Dr. Derek Forster said UK Hospital is prepared.  Forster said they’ve had weekly meetings about Ebola.  He’s confident UK would be ready.

"Yeah, I am, I think there’s been a lot of planning in place and it’s all been based on the CDC guidance and best practice," said Forster. 

Treatment would begin in triage.  Forster said staff would need to ask if a potential patient had visited the affected areas in West Africa.  Next, it would be isolation.

"The key is getting them out of any common area to a private room with a private bathroom as soon as possible," said Forster.

Forster said you cannot contract Ebola through air, food, or water.  Forster said you can only get it through direct contact with blood and bodily fluids.  Forster said most of the treatment plan is the same as treating other infectious diseases, but he says there are differences especially because of how quickly Ebola spreads.

"How we handle lab specimens, how we handle contaminated waste like sheets and those types of things.  So, these are definitely different," said Forster.

Forster wanted to remind people an Ebola patient does not become infectious until the patient shows symptoms.