Union and Adair counties continue to work with the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to remain up-to-date on preparations for a possible Ebola case in Iowa.
“The likelihood of an Ebola case in our county is extremely low,” said Robin Sevier, RN, Union County Public Health Nurse. “Even so, our preparedness activity regarding this health issue helps us prepare for any future outbreaks of more common diseases.”
There are currently no confirmed or suspected cases of Ebola in Iowa; in addition, no individuals currently under Ebola-related health orders have any symptoms of Ebola.
The federal government is working closely with states, and states in turn with local public health agencies, to track travelers returning from Ebola-affected West African countries. All of these travelers are routed to one of five screening airports.
• Well travelers are allowed to go on to their final destination.
• The CDC then notifies the receiving state of that traveler’s final destination.
• If, for instance, the final destination is Iowa, IDPH contacts local public health officials to conduct a risk assessment of the individual and issue appropriate health orders.
• Local public health officials notify key partners that an order exists in the service area; however, no details regarding the types of orders, numbers or patient identifiers are given. This is required by Iowa law that prohibits potential identification of an individual.
Public health orders are based on a risk assessment (low, some, or high).
• Low Risk – individual is ordered to take their temperature and notify local public health of the results twice daily. The individual is allowed to go about normal activities.
• Some Risk – individual is ordered to home quarantine; this allows for outdoor noncongregate activities and requires the individual to take their temperature twice daily with local public health observing.
• High Risk – individual is ordered to home quarantine, additional activity is limited and the individual must take their temperature twice daily with local public health observing.
These orders are issued to ensure an early as possible warning of the appearance of symptoms which allows time to arrange for appropriate transport and care of patients. This will ensure that no exposure to unprotected and unprepared health care workers occurs.
“We know there continues to be much interest in the possibility of Ebola occurring in Iowa,” said Stephanie Claussen, community health coordinator in Adair County. “We are confident we are prepared for the highly unlikely possibility of a case in Iowa. The precautions being taken by public health in Iowa and CDC regarding health orders help ensure the public and our health care providers are safe and the health of the community is protected.”
For more information on Ebola, visit www.idph.state.ia.us/EHI/Issue.aspx?issue=Ebola Outbreak or www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html.