Ebola Update
On Friday, October 17, the Ontario Minister of Health and Long-Term care announced the province's readiness plan to contain and treat any potential cases of Ebola. A number of measures have been implemented to further protect the safety of all Ontario healthcare workers and residents.
Read this announcement: Province Enhancing Measures to Prepare for Ebola VIrus Disease.
The Ministry of Health is also sharing up-to-date information with the public regarding Ebola cases - suspect, probable and confirmed - globally, nationally, and provincially: Ebola Virus Disease.
At Stevenson Memorial Hospital
Stevenson is committed to the protection and well-being of our patients. Precautionary measures are being enhanced, to ensure the safety of our community and our staff. We have heightened our vigilance as a result of Ebola.
In addition to being screened for symptoms, all patients who come to the Emergency Department are being screened for recent travel history to those areas most impacted by Ebola – Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Nigeria.
Also, triage staff in the Emergency Department will be wearing masks, gowns, gloves and face shields.
Anyone showing symptoms will be required to wear a face mask and wash their hands. Should a suspected case of Ebola present itself at Stevenson, the patient would be immediately placed on Respiratory/Contact precautions and placed in isolation until transfer to one of the province’s designated referral centres.
What You Should Know About Ebola
Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal illness. The infection is transmitted by direct contact with the blood, body fluids, and tissues of infected animals or people. Severely ill patients require intensive supportive care. During an outbreak, those at higher risk of infection are health care workers, family members and others in close contact with sick people and deceased patients.
While the outbreak in West Africa is both devastating to those affected and a concern of international safety, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is reiterating that the overall risk to Ontarians from this outbreak remains low.
If you have recently travelled to one of the affected areas, including Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo, you are reminded to be alert for possible symptoms of EVD.
Symptoms include:
- Fever (greater than 38.6°C or 101.5°F)
- Severe headache
- Muscle pain
- Sore Throat
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal (stomach) pain
- Unexplained bleeding or bruising
Seek medical attention immediately if you have recently travelled (within 30 days) to one of the affected regions and begin to feel unwell. Before coming to Stevenson, please call ahead to 705-435-62811, ext. 2212 and advise of your recent travel history. This will allow us to adequately prepare for your arrival to ensure your safety and the safety of others.
Resources
The World Health Organization and Public Health Ontario continue to closely monitor the situation globally and can provide the most up-to-date and accurate information via their website.
