Brown and Ryan want the CDC to do more to protect Ohioans

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Ohio’s congressional delegation and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown have sent separate letters to the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention demanding the CDC do more to protect Ohio citizens from the threat of the Ebola virus.

State health officials reiterated there were no confirmed cases of Ebola in Ohio as of Monday, and no one was displaying symptoms of possible infection.

Brown, D-Cleveland, also sent his letter outlining a five-part plan for managing emerging cases of Ebola to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Obama administration’s Ebola response coordinator.

The demands of the congressional delegation and Brown came less than one week after a Dallas health-care worker who traveled to the Akron area tested positive for Ebola.

“I call on the CDC to do everything in its power to ensure that any potential Ebola exposure and risk in Ohio is properly addressed and our state has every resource available to keep our community safe and secure,” said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th.

Brown said Ohio is home to some of the best hospitals and infectious-disease experts in the country. But, he said, it is critical that federal officials outline strict and effective protocols to harness that expertise and ensure the safety and health of all Ohioans.

Brown’s five-part plan for the government to managing Ebola cases is:

Going above and beyond the CDC’s traditional role of providing guidance to local authorities to becoming an active partner in the local decision-making process.

Meeting and working directly with state and local public health experts and health-care providers on a consistent basis to continually assess, update and enhance protocols.

Monitoring closely the individuals who have been quarantined under local authority.

Partnering with local health-care systems and hospitals to develop a clear plan for any potential patients and educating all health-care professionals on this plan of action.

Sending additional preparedness experts, infection-control experts, and additional personnel from the CDC to Ohio.

The Ohio Department of Health issued a statement in support of new coordinated steps by Summit County to protect first responders and health-care workers in the event that they are required to respond to a request for help from someone quarantined or monitored for possible Ebola exposure.

Dr. Mary DiOrio, state epidemiologist, said Summit County’s protocol is the “right move to protect first responders and health-care workers, and it is careful and well-considered. It is in line with the aggressive approach we are all taking to deal with the situation.”

The Summit County Public Health District said the protocol was developed with input from all Summit County hospital systems, the health district and first responders for the notification, dispatch, response and transportation of individuals who may have symptoms of Ebola.

Meanwhile, the State Controlling Board signed off on $800,000 requested Monday by health officials to deal with potential outbreaks of the Ebola virus in the state.

A total of $500,000 will be used to pay a Cincinnati firm to dispose of contaminated linens and other materials in cases where local health departments are unable to deal sufficiently with such cleanup activities.

The other $300,000 will be used to purchase protective gear and supplies for use by emergency responders and workers at health-care facilities treating any confirmed cases of the virus if hospitals are unable to get the supplies they need.

The ODH said it already has “102,122 face masks, 2,592 goggles, 1,600 shoe covers, 576 coveralls, 1,350 hoods, 105,300 gloves, 29,220 respirators and 7,026 gowns” on hand, with more supplies arriving daily. That’s in addition to supplies held by hospitals and other health-care facilities.

Lynne Bratka, interim chief of the Bureau of Health Preparedness at ODH, estimated it costs about $7,000 for enough protective gear to cover one Ebola patient for one day. The state health department has enough protective supplies on hand to handle 16 patient days. The controlling board request will take it to about 100.

Lawmakers also gave unanimous approval to the new outlays after questioning health department representatives about the effectiveness of the supplies being purchased and disposal plans in the event of an outbreak.

Three Ohioans who were in direct contact with a Texas nurse diagnosed with the virus are in quarantwine, and 140-plus are being closely monitored.

Contributor: Staff writer William K. Alcorn and correspondent Marc Kovac in Columbus