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Blacksburg, Va., Dec. 10 -- Emergency Management: Virginia Tech's Office of Emergency Management helps spread Ebola updates to community members. Photo: Samantha Hill
As of Nov. 8, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported only three confirmed cases of Ebola in the United States. Despite the low number, people still remain concerned for their safety.
Dr. Timothy Sands, Virginia Tech’s president, met with the Safety and Security Policy Committee to discuss Ebola after concerns rose. Both parties decided restricting travel would be best, notifying students and faculty by email.
Michael Mulhare, Director of Emergency Management, says Virginia Tech is working with the Department of Health to plan in the event Ebola spread to the area, as well as developing their own work group.
“The university has a work group put together of different areas of the university who have some role in any type of health outbreak, any communicable disease outbreak,” Mulhare says.
Dr. Molly O’Dell, Medical Director for the New River Health District of the Virginia Department of Health, says they must maintain confidentiality of those being monitored for symptoms. In the event someone becomes sick, a plan is in place.
“Should a person become ill, we would then work with EMS, if needed, to transport that patient to a place that they can be appropriately evaluated by a physician,” O’Dell says.
Within Virginia Tech’s Corporate Research Center, people like Caitlin Rivers, a graduate research assistant, are using mathematical formulas to forecast the spread of Ebola.
“We like to think they’re [forecasting] helpful. If nothing else, they sort of give responders an idea of what to expect,” Rivers says.
Though Ebola is unlikely to hit Southwest Virginia, people are planning and preventing its spread both here and in West Africa.
Ebola: The Blacksburg perspective
Organizations across the New River Valley are working together to prevent the spread of Ebola, both here and in West Africa.
By Samantha Hill
Since this summer, Ebola has become a growing concern worldwide. Though it’s affecting West Africa the most, people across the country — even in Blacksburg, Virginia — worry the outbreak could come to the United States.
According to WebMD, Ebola is a deadly disease that wrecks the immune system, causing heavy bleeding inside the body and organ damage.
New River Health District holds Ebola class
The New River Health District of the Virginia Department of Health held an Ebola class on Dec. 12, 2014.
Dr. Molly O’Dell, the Medical Director, presented updates provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including the number of people tested for Ebola in Virginia.
According to the Virginia Department of Health, State Health Commissioner Marissa Levine declared Ebola an infection of public health threat on Oct. 24, 2014. Levine may now issue orders of isolation or quarantine if needed to control potential outbreaks of the disease.
“We have not had a declaration of infectious disease of public health threat since the 20s during the small pox epidemic,” O’Dell said.
O’Dell also relayed current numbers from the CDC. To date, five people have been tested in Virginia for Ebola. All five people tested negative for Ebola.
The class gave health officials the opportunity to ask questions and stay updated on new policies.