Santa Clara County putting Ebola plan in place
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Santa Clara County leaders and healthcare workers are putting their heads together to ensure the county is prepared in the event that the Ebola virus reaches the South Bay.
This is a complicated issue because one Ebola case could spark fears in the community. That's why leaders in Santa Clara County want a plan in place as soon as possible.
There haven't been any Ebola cases in Santa Clara County, but what took place in Dallas, Texas with one patient spreading the disease to two nurses is spurring leaders to action.
"I don't think it's inciting fear in the community to say the reality is that even one infected Ebola patient or victim comes into this county, we're immediately going to have to quarantine virtually everyone who that person has come in contact with," said Dave Cortese, Santa Clara County Supervisor.
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Health experts say isolating a potential Ebola patient is key.
At the supervisors' meeting on Tuesday, leaders from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Health care system explained their protocols. They ranged from pointed questions about travel to West Africa, to people presenting a fever at their clinics and at their emergency room at Valley Medical Center.
If Ebola is suspected, the patient is brought into a specialized room and health workers treating that person will put on personal protection equipment.
"These include double gloves, an impermeable Tyvek hood and neck cover with a full face shield, powered air purifying respirators,an inner layer of a fluid resistant type jumpsuit, an outer layer of an impermeable gown, and rubber boots with overlying fluid resistant leg covers," said Jeff Arnold of Valley Medical Center.
Valley Medical Center executives says they are still identifying health care workers willing to take on an Ebola case.
The nurses union says some training has taken place and a discussion about protocols is ongoing with administrators.
"We're fortunate that the CDC has confirmed that they will in fact with we have a confirmed case provide support to our hospital," said Paul Lorenz of Valley Medical Center.
"We face a lot of health crisis throughout our careers and this too is a health crisis that's happening and we will adapt like everybody else," said Liz Larosa of the Professional Nurses Association.
Supervisors also discussed the airport and schools, saying they want to give them guidelines without causing panic.
For full coverage on the Ebola virus, click here.
