Comments
received by Etopia News from the California and Los Angeles County
Departments of Public Health indicate that these agencies believe that there is
not much of a threat of an Ebola outbreak within their territories and that
existing facilities are sufficiently prepared to cope with any such outbreak.
Asked “Has
the department catalogued and analyzed the availability of resources within the
state to meet the emergency needs that an outbreak of Ebola in the state would
generate?” a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health
responded:
“Both CDC
and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) continue to prepare for
the unlikely event that a returning traveler from these countries is infected
with Ebola virus. CDPH is working with local health departments across
California to assess the readiness of health care facilities to handle patients
who may have Ebola. Hospitals have resources to effectively isolate
patients. Local health departments have resources to follow up on any
persons in the community who may be exposed.”
Asked the
same thing about its own area, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles County of
Public Health responded by saying:
“The Los
Angeles County Department of Public Health does not anticipate an outbreak of
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) to occur in the county, however Public Health is
prepared should an incidence of EVD occur. In the event of multiple cases of
illness, Public Health and its County partners are able to swiftly respond.
This readiness includes the ability to identify and diagnose any suspected EVD
case through the Public Health Laboratory, isolate the patient in the event a
diagnosis is confirmed, provide appropriate care with strict infection control,
and work with those who have contact with the patient.
“Public
Health is confident that the level of precaution required to protect against
EVD is well within the capabilities of all hospitals in Los Angeles County. The
Department has provided information about the diagnosis and management of
suspected cases of Ebola to health care providers and all hospitals in the
County. In addition, quarantine stations, under the direction of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), are available in Los Angeles and San
Diego counties, should the need arise.
The spokesperson
added, “A survey of the County’s overall readiness is not available for
distribution.”
Neither
agency had anything to say about the safe disposal of Ebola-contaminated
materials, including protective gear, which emerged as an issue during the
treatment of Ebola patients at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia,
as reported in an article from Reuters entitled “US hospitals unprepared to handle Ebola waste.”
