Health and Fitness : VGH begins new Ebola screening protocol, but flu remains larger concern

Today, Virginia Gay Hospital in Vinton has joined health care facilities all over the U.S in initiating a new Ebola Screening Tool, as fears about the rare virus spread across the U.S.

Yet, says VGH Public Health Director Melissa Smith, the infectious disease that Iowans and Americans should still fear much more is the the most commonly-known one: The flu.

The VGH Home Health Dept. will be administering 50 to 100 flu shots at the first-ever first Benton County Community Health and Wellness Fair this Saturday at the Skate Center.

While Ebola is dreaded because of its severe symptoms and the threat it poses to those who come into contact with patients infected by that virus, the flu affects countless Americans every year, causing some extreme illnesses and death.

The flu season has not yet begun, said Smith, so the medical community has not yet determined the specifics of its impact for this season, but public health departments in each state as well as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control monitor flu data year-round, and remind residents of the dangers of the flu, especially on the elderly and young children.

About new Ebola screening

On Thursday, Virginia Gay Hospital leaders sent out the following information to its staff concerning the new protocols that went into place regarding Ebola screening.

"Our Emergency Department has initiated the use of an Ebola Screening tool where all patients will be screened using specific criteria as specified by the CDC. If they meet all criteria, the patient will be moved to a private room with proper isolation."

Below is the CDC's description of the symptoms and travel history that identify a patient as a possible Ebola sufferer:

1.Fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting,stomach pain and lack of appetite, and in some cases bleeding. AND 2.Travel to West Africa (Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone or othercountries where EVD transmission has been reported by WHO) within 21 days (3weeks) of symptom onset. If both criteria are met, then the patient should be moved to a private room with a bathroom, and STANDARD, CONTACT, and DROPLET precautions followed during further assessment.

Medical professionals say an Ebola outbreak is highly unlikely, but the recent concerns about Ebola in Africa and a case reported earlier this week in Texas have led health official to institute these new protocols.

Below is a CDC message concerning Ebola screening issued today to health care facilities throughout the U.S.:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response have issued the attached Ebola screening criteria for the entire health care community, including emergency responders, to ensure that they are able to protect, detect and respond to the virus. They recommend that these screening criteria be placed in all emergency departments, ambulances and other “first contact” locations, including outpatient clinics.

The AHA strongly encourages all hospitals and clinics to post these Ebola screening criteria prominently in locations where hospital staff – including intake, triage and clinical staff – can see it. The key to preventing the spread of Ebola is to identify and isolate potential cases as quickly as possible. This outbreak is the largest in history and is primarily affecting countries in West Africa. It is most active in Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria andSierra Leone. CDC has posted the major affected areas in each of these countries, and this information should be factored into the screening taking place in hospital emergency departments, outpatient clinics, ambulances and other “first contact” locations. Please visit CDC’s Ebola website regularly for the latest information. CDC officials are available to assist 24/7 by calling the CDC Emergency Operations Center at 770-488-7100 or via email at eocreport@cdc.gov.

The AHA has updated its Ebola preparedness webpage with resources that hospitals and health systems, as well as emergency response personnel, can use to prepare for Ebola and will continue to share resources with the field as they become available. Hospital leaders Oct. 1 received an AHA advisory with related information, including the CDC’sDetailed Hospital Checklist for Ebola Preparedness.