The outbreak of Ebola has caused people all around the world to panic.
This fatal virus has spread to the United States.
The recent Ebola outbreak is considered to be one of the largest plagues that has affected many countries in West Africa.
Thomas Eric Duncan, the first person to be diagnosed in the United States, died last Wednesday in a Dallas hospital. Duncan passed shortly after being diagnosed with the deadly virus. The question remains, why was
Duncan released from the hospital, after telling health officials that he had recently traveled to Liberia and had a fever and abdominal pain?
In North Carolina, there have been a few health scares that have citizens questioning if there are proper procedures in place to ensure that they are protected from the virus.
An Ebola scare closed a Mecklenburg County emergency room on Thursday, Oct. 9, which is something that citizens will see often in the upcoming weeks due to fears of the virus.
In Boone N.C., officials say that there was an Ebola scare at a hospital. Luckily protocol was in place after a patient reportedly traveled to Africa and showed up with a fever.
Guilford County Department of Health and Human Services released information on Oct. 8 about Ebola, proper procedure, and the symptoms.
The N.C. Department of Health and Human Services announced that they have taken steps to keep an outbreak from happening. The Division of Public Health has partnered with the state, federal, and local health agencies to detect cases using proper health methods.
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University has taken the necessary steps in order to prevent the virus from spreading on campus.
Sebastian Health Center has developed screening and risk assessment for students and staff, revised the Student Health Center Communicable Disease and Pandemic plan to include the outbreak of Ebola.
“We have collectively upgraded our staff infection control polices and education to include our personal protective equipment (PPE) and training in its use,” said Interim Executive Director Bettye Young-Stewart.
Sebastian Health Center wants to ensure that students are protected from viruses, infections, and contagions.
N.C. A&T will continue to collaborate with the Guilford County Health Department as they have been chosen as first responders for any infectious outbreak.
“Our Health Center will continue to implement the suggested best practices from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services as it relates to working to control Ebola outbreaks,” said Yvonne Parks, nurse supervisor.
Ebola symptoms are hard to detect given that flu symptoms are similar.
The common symptoms are: vomiting, diarrhea, severe muscle and stomach pain, fever, or any other type of unexpected bleeding or bruising.
Ebola is not an airborne virus. It cannot be spread through water or food. It is only passed to another person by direct contact through bodily fluids of a person who contracted the virus.
Health officials advise citizens to get their flu shot and vaccinations early to minimize your chance of catching the flu or any other virus.
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- Dominique Moody, Register Reporter