With the first case of Ebola confirmed in the U.S. on Sept. 30 in Dallas, local health officials are urging citizens to remain calm because the likelihood of a widespread outbreak in the country is low.
“It is understandably frightening to many people if you pay attention to the headlines. It can scare you,” said Dr. David Didden, physician director of the Jefferson County Health Department.
“Think about the outbreak on a deeper level. We have so many public health structures in place to prevent widespread outbreaks in this country,” Didden said.
Outside Knutti Hall, students agreed that they are not worried about a widespread outbreak in the U.S.
“Not really,” Attalia Brown, a freshman commuter student, said when asked if she was worried about an outbreak. That response was echoed by Jordan Lohr, a junior.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Tuesday, Sept. 30, that a male tested positive for the disease at a Dallas hospital. The male traveled to Liberia on Sept. 19 and arrived back in the U.S. on Sept. 20, according to the CDC Facebook page.
A friend of the patient told CNN that the male, 42-years-old, is a Liberian national who was here visiting family and friends.
At press time, national news agencies reported that the male patient may have come in contact with as many as 100 other people. The individuals staying in the apartment with the male that became ill are currently in quarantine, according to CNN reports.
“Only way to transmit is through body fluid contact—no airborne transmission,” said Dr. Robert Flint, emergency room physician at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown, Md.
Flint and Didden reiterated the CDC information by saying that Ebola is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of a sick person or exposure to objects such as needles, clothing or bedding that have been contaminated.
“Ebola is not spread through causal contact or through the air,” Flint said.
At the present time there is no vaccine or cure for the disease.
“No real treatment except supportive care. Local hospitals can handle [the treatment of these patients with] proper universal precautions,” Flint said.
Supportive care would include proper hydration, nutrition and immune support, Didden said.
The CDC reports the illness has an average 8 – 10 day incubation period, but it has seen ranges from 2 – 21 days. The CDC recommends people with symptoms should be monitored for 21 days.
People are not contagious until they start developing symptoms, Didden said.
Symptoms of the disease include fever greater than 101.5, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained bleeding or bruising, according to the CDC website.
Didden added that bleeding from mucus membranes in the mouth, nose and eyes are likely.
“The plausibility of exposure is the key element in the last 21 days. If you have these symptoms, but no potential exposure, [it is likely not Ebola],” Didden said.
“We have good infection control facilities and excellent disease monitoring in the U.S. Keep in mind there are many other health risks that we are exposed to that are bound to cause more death and disease,” said Didden.
“We have a far more advanced medical system in the U.S.,” Lohr, who has traveled outside the country, said.
Students and residents are far more likely to experience or die of other causes or disease processes such as smoking or car accidents, Didden said.
Students and citizens with questions can contact the Jefferson County Health Department or visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov.