Tue 6:48 PM, Sep 23, 2014
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW) -- The head of the CDC says the Ebola epidemic is spiraling out of control in Africa. Now, the organization is asking US hospitals to prepare in the event of an Ebola outbreak where you live.
Georgia Regents Medical Center is waiting for a shipment of protective goggles, boot covers, and hoods. It's one of the precautions they're taking in case the CDC's fears become reality.
"It's spiraling out of control. It's bad now, it's going to get worse in the very near future," Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC director, said.
That's why they're urging hospitals around the country to prepare in case Ebola spreads to our borders.
"Before we actually had our plan in place, we were seeing patients who had spent time in Africa, including West Africa, who had returned with symptoms, just not fever," Dr. Peter Rissing, the Epidemiologist at Georgia Regents Medical Center, said.
So far, there have not been any confirmed cases of Ebola at GRU, but Dr. Rissing says, their team now has a plan in place.
"It was actually put together in conjunction with the same emergency room physicians who had to deal with the first couple of patients without a plan," Dr. Rissing said.
And, after treating Ebola patients in a trial by fire style, the doctors at Emory had a few suggestions.
"Additional insight from folks inside that system would suggest it wasn't all quite as well organized as it might have seemed," Dr. Rissing said.
GRU's plan begins with identifying patients with Ebola symptoms quickly, and getting those patients isolated as soon as possible. It also covers everything from containing blood samples, to training staff how to handle contaminated gear.
GRU is sharing the plan with first responders, like Gold Cross, all to be prepared, no matter what comes our way.
GRU says they've shared their plan with several other area hospitals who have asked for it. Dr. Rissing also says some local doctors have been asked to head to Africa to help fight the outbreak. http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Local-hospital-puts-Ebola-action-plan-in-place-276838511.html
