Local hospitals prepare for Ebola

by nathan mayberg
newton — It hasn't hit regional hospitals yet, but the Ebola virus is one of the scariest and most deadly viruses to threaten the United States in years.

Local hospitals are bracing for the possibility that they could end up with a patient carrying a deadly disease that is spread through touch with an infected person or any of their fluids, including perspiration.

In a short span, the virus has killed thousands in western Africa. The fatality rate has been high and swift, with more than 5,000 reported dead and thousands more infected mainly in the countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

The disease spread to the U.S. last month when Thomas Eric Duncan caught the disease while in Liberia, traveled to Dallas and checked himself into a hospital. He was sent back home only to return two days later with more severe symptoms. He has since died and two nurses who cared for him have tested positive for the Ebola virus. Others who were in contact with Duncan have been quarantined though there have been no other confirmed cases of Ebola in the U.S. outside Dallas.

Airports such as JFK International and Newark are testing passengers from the West African countries for fever as they exit the planes.

The threat of the virus spreading further has caused local hospitals to start training staff and develop procedures to screen patients who may be suspected of carrying Ebola.

Presently, regional hospitals are focusing on identifying patients who may have a high fever, nausea, diarrhea or flu-like symptoms who may have traveled to western Africa.

Dr. Donald Allega is an infectious disease consultant advising Atlantic Health Systems on how hospitals should be handling a response to the virus.

Atlantic Health Systems includes Newton Medical Center, Chilton Medical Center and Vernon Urgent Care.

Allegra said that hospital staff have been instructed to do a travel history on "anybody who comes in with a fever."

Allegra is said the hospital is planning an aggressive response and training programs in light of the infection of nurse staff at the Dallas hospital.

"We can't take any chances while we are trying to figure out if it's Malaria or not."

Allegra said if a patient has been to West Africa and has "any symptom at all" they will be put into negative pressure isolation rooms at the hospital for 21 days. The isolation room keeps the air from circulating outside the room though he noted the Ebola virus has not been shown to be transmitted through the air.

Blood tests will be sent out overnight to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Those treating the patients will be fitted with impermeable gowns, eye shields and non-porous masks. Those with Ebola start out with a high grade fever which evolves into vomiting and diarrhea. "It's a flu-like illness," he said. But with a much higher death rate.

Due to the infections of nurses in Dallas, Allegra said those who treat patients at Atlantic hospitals will be instructed to work together in a buddy system to make sure no protocols have been violated. The (CDC) has speculated that one of the nurses who was infected with Ebola may not have followed CDC guidelines though definitive answer has been given as to how she caught the disease from Duncan.

Complicating matters is the onset of the flu season which will begin in December. Symtoms of the flu are similar to the early symptoms posed by Ebola. "The travel history is going to be the key here," Allegra said.

At Bon Secours Charity Health System, which includes St. Anthony Community Hospital in Warwick, Good Samaritan Regional Hospital in Suffern and Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis, spokesperson Deborah Marshall said "we are very actively involved in making certain all of our active teams are ready."

Marshall said the hospital is following guidelines set by the CDC for screening and posting signs.

Marshall said signs will be posted at hospitals instructing people with symptoms to go to the emergency department. Those believed to possibly be infected with Ebola will be placed in isolation rooms. Staff will be given protective equipment to deal with those who may possibly be infected, she said.