Teams Set, County Prepared for Ebola Although Officials Say Likelihood Slim

COURT HOUSE – The likelihood of an Ebola case in Cape May County is remote, but in these days of easy travel from anywhere, county officials need to ensure that the public health infrastructure is ready if the unlikely were to occur.
To date, the only cases of Ebola contracted in the U.S. were in Dallas, Texas and involved health care workers who had intimate contact with an infected individual. The virus, which is not airborne, is difficult to transmit and requires a level of intimate contact for transmission.
There have been cases of individuals who presented symptoms and a travel history that left open the possibility that they had contracted the virus and health organizations had to treat the situations as the real thing until confirmed otherwise. One recent case was in Connecticut at Yale University Hospital.
County Health Director Kevin Thomas, made clear the fact that vigilance will be necessary until the massive outbreak in West Africa is brought under control. Given that need for preparedness and the constantly evolving set of protocols from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Cape May County is taking the necessary steps to be ready if the need arises.
Special teams have been assembled by the County Health Department and by the Cape Regional Medical Center (CRMC). According to Thomas Piratzky of CRMC, the Ebola Preparedness Team is “actively reviewing all aspects of preparedness,” including “personal protective equipment, laboratory procedures, education and training, cleaning/disinfection procedures, and communications.”
County teams are similarly training and expanding the training to first responders who may deal with a patient outside of a hospital setting. Because a patient could present at the urgent care facility rather than the hospital, physicians and nurses at that facility are part of the team as well.
CRMC is also training a special team of caregivers in the care and management of any patient with the disease. The team involves physicians, nurses, support staff and members of administration from across the center. In fact, in response to CDC directives, CRMC and county health officials held an unannounced drill just a few days ago. An individual presented herself at the Emergency Room with what Thomas called “defining symptoms” of the disease and responded positively to the protocol questions concerning travel to an infected area. That individual was in isolation with nine minutes, a response that the health officials called strong.
In the Dallas situation, one area of concern has been the availability of proper protective gear from the start of interaction with an infected patient. When asked, Thomas said that the county did have the proper protective equipment but that it was in “limited supply” and purchases were being made to augment that supply. Piratzky indicated that CRMC “is equipped with the protective equipment that is designated by the CDC.”
Thomas said that the end of the tourist season, when many more individuals from outside the county travel here, is a “real plus.” However, he cautioned that the start of flu season complicates matters since flu can mimic Ebola symptoms in the early stages. The actual threat of Ebola in the county may be low, but some individuals with the onset of flu may very well fear the worst. In fact, Thomas’ best advice is “get the flu shot.”
This is a community with no close international airport. It is a time of year with much reduced travel into the county by non-residents. The county is unlikely to see a case of Ebola.
Both the websites for the county health department and CRMC contain Ebola update information accessible by the public. Links are also present to CDC and a number of related sites as part of the overall communication effort.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.