Columbia Missourian | Oct 17, 2014
JEFFERSON CITY — As news of potential Ebola cases captivates the nation, Gov. Jay Nixon assured Missouri residents Friday that the state’s health network was prepared to handle possible cases. Missouri now has one of approximately 20 laboratories across the country that can test potential Ebola specimens.
“What we tried to do is be consistent, to be prepared, to be calm and to be vigilant,” Nixon said during a press conference at the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory in Jefferson City. “We hope that gives fellow Missouri residents confidence that we have a public health system … that is on point and prepared. And should the need arise, we have the resources to adequately deal with the challenge.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has certified the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory as an Ebola testing laboratory in order to investigate and control the disease in the state. Although the lab has received all proper equipment and protective garb, it has not yet received any Ebola samples, said Gail Vasterling, director of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
“There’s not been a single reported case of Ebola in the state of Missouri,” Nixon said. “Our lab is as good as any anywhere and has been certified to make sure that we will be able to find out as quickly and as professionally as possible if (an Ebola case) occurs.”
Nixon also announced Friday the release of $3.3 million in funds to local health agencies to combat this and other health concerns, such as the flu and foodborne illnesses.
After the Oct. 8 death of the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the United States and the subsequent spread of the disease to two nurses, some have raised concerns about the thoroughness of CDC protective standards.
However, Vasterling said that the Missouri health care system has been properly trained in how to respond in the event of an Ebola case. She said hospitals statewide have been following CDC guidelines on protective gear and protocol.
“We had a training session last week with hospitals, emergency management systems, law enforcement, schools, and we had our state epidemiologist do a presentation for all of them. And then they did an exercise,” Vasterling said. “We’re planning to do more of those regionally. We also send out health alerts to update all the medical community within the state when necessary about the Ebola issue.”
The number of people who have contracted Ebola in the U.S. is small in comparison to those in West Africa. According to the CDC’s most recent estimates, West African countries have seen 8,973 cases of Ebola and 4,484 deaths. The continuing outbreak has been blamed on widespread poverty and failing infrastructure of the health care systems in the affected area.
Both Nixon and Vasterling reassured Missouri residents that similar failures are not a part of the state’s health care system.
Ebola is spread through direct contact of bodily fluids, including vomit, semen, sweat and blood. Those who suspect that they have Ebola should contact their local public health agencies.
Kasia Kovacs 