Thursday, October 23, 2014
By Marc Kovac
COLUMBUS
Health officials sought to assure Ohioans Wednesday that the state is well prepared to handle any potential Ebola outbreaks, with increased training completed, additional protective gear purchased and more than 150 residents being monitored for any signs of infection.
“I think we’re in a good place,” said Christopher Braden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, who is heading the federal agency’s efforts in Ohio.
“We still have some time before we’re out of the woods, but we’re at a place in the response at this point where we can take a deep breath and reflect on the week and do what’s needed to go forward.”
Braden offered his perceptions during a conference call with reporters one week after reports that a Texas nurse diagnosed with Ebola had spent a weekend in the Akron area.
A total of 164 people statewide are under some level of monitoring, including three under quarantine and 17 who are checked daily by public health officials. The rest are keeping tabs on their own conditions, watching for fevers or other symptoms.
“At this point, we believe that we have identified all of the contacts,” said Mary DiOrio, state epidemiologist. She added, “We are a week into our response. There are zero cases of Ebola in Ohio.”
Over the past week, the Ohio Department of Health has increased guidelines for handling individuals who had contact with the Texas nurse or others infected with Ebola. Hospitals and health care workers have conducted drills to practice response plans. State officials have OK’d funds to purchase more protective gear for use by hospitals and emergency responders. And a 24-hour state Ebola hotline (866-800-1404) has answered nearly 2,000 calls.
Meanwhile, the Mahoning County District Board of Health has adopted a stop-gap policy on instituting a quarantine or isolation should it become necessary because of Ebola.
Health Commissioner Patricia Sweeney said Wednesday’s action was necessary when it was discovered that Ohio law requires authorization from the health department’s District Advisory Council to quarantine or isolate people, authorization which the health department does not have.
In the meantime, Sweeney said, if quarantine became necessary, she would call an emergency meeting of the board to authorize the action.