Illinois Ebola Preparedness

 

Yesterday, as Chairman of the House Appropriations Human Services Committee I attended a briefing with Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), the Illinois Emergency Management Authority (IEMA), State Fire Marshal and hospital representatives on preparedness steps being taken in case a person with Ebola symptoms should present in Illinois.  So far there are NO suspected or confirmed cases of Ebola in Illinois.

 

All health departments, first responders, hospitals, key healthcare providers, local governments and emergency managers are connected by a real-time emergency information management network named SIREN, so that any and all necessary information and updates can be communicated instantaneously should updates on Ebola need to be made. The SIREN network is a well-established system that is also used for other disease outbreaks and for responses to natural disasters.

 

IDPH and Illinois hospital groups have sent detailed protocols to local hospitals and healthcare provider groups across the state on how to treat suspected cases should one present itself, including isolation procedures, laboratory specimen submission, infection control procedures, case management etc.  I know that hospitals and health departments across Chicago and the state are conducting readiness reviews and drills so that doctors and staffs are trained and prepared.  As well hospitals, local health departments, health care providers, infectious disease physicians and EMS systems are being provided regular updates from the CDC as they become available.

 

The CDC announced yesterday that O’Hare International Airport, along with 4 other major international arrival airports in the US will begin enhanced arrival screenings for passengers whose travels may have taken them from countries where Ebola outbreaks have been.  This arrival screening for certain international passengers arriving in the US is addition to departure screening already in place.  The CDC has quarantine facilities at O’Hare where any person detected by the arrival screens can be assessed.

 

Dr. Hasbrouck, IDPH and IEMA believe that keeping the public fully informed of the high state of preparedness and training of Illinois healthcare systems and first responders is important.  Should a case ever present itself in Illinois, they will also be having regular briefings so that the public continues to be fully informed.

 

Here are some key facts about Ebola illness and transmission:

  • Ebola is NOT an airborne infection
  • Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with blood or body fluids of a person who is sick with Ebola
  • A person who is NOT experiencing symptoms CANNOT transmit the virus

If you would like to see the most current information on Ebola from the Centers for Disease Control, here is a link to their website including information for the public, healthcare providers and status of outbreaks in other countries:  http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html

 

I am very glad that Illinois and local health departments, emergency managers and first responders are carefully and thoughtfully preparing for this and other disease outbreaks such as flu and pediatric enterovirus.  Should I get more important information in future briefings I will pass it on.

 

Should you have any questions please call me at 773 348 3434 or write me at greg@gregharris.org.