Ebola Guidelines & Recommendations for EMS and 911 Call Center October 17, 2014 Physician Resource, SF Dept of Public Health, SFMS Member Ebola, EMS, John Brown 0 The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management-EMS Agency is working closely with the Department of Public Health to monitor the Ebola outbreak situation in Africa and to develop the local response within San Francisco. It is important to remember that while Ebola is a contagious disease, transmission can be completely prevented by strict adherence to personal protective measures. Current local response goals are focused on providing information about the situation as it evolves, communicating personal protection measures and ensuring early identification and containment of any potential cases. The 2014 Ebola outbreak is one of the largest in history. This outbreak first appeared in West Africa affecting the countries of Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone (Although small numbers of cases occurred in Nigeria and Senegal, these countries do not have active spread of Ebola at this time). The first case of Ebola diagnosed in the U.S. was confirmed by the CDC on September 30 and occurred in a traveler from Liberia to Dallas, Texas who died. Two nurses who cared for the patient are now hospitalized with Ebola. As of the date of this post, there are no confirmed cases of Ebola in San Francisco. Ebola is a viral disease that initially causes non-specific symptoms like fever, chills, headaches, muscle ache, loss of strength and fatigue. As the disease progresses patients develop high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, rash and abdominal pain, along with decreased liver and kidney function. As the illness progresses, affected people may experience both internal and external bleeding. Ebola is only infectious when the patient is symptomatic. Risk for transmission is associated with direct contact with blood or body fluids (urine, fecal material, saliva, perspiration, or aerosolized secretions) of an individual who is SICK with the disease. Individuals without symptoms cannot transmit the disease. Click on the links to below to view recommendations and screening guidelines for EMS and 911 dispatch about the Ebola virus from SFMS member and DEM-EMS Agency Medical Director John Brown, MD. Recommendations for San Francisco Dispatch Centers on Ebola Recommendations for Emergency Responders on Ebola Comments are closed.
