Colorado Health Officials Hope To Alleviate Ebola Fears
DENVER (CBS4) - Thousands of doses of experimental Ebola vaccines could be available in West Africa as soon as January. Clinical trials for the vaccines are currently taking place. As long as they are safe the World Health Organization says it could be used on Ebola patients next year.
The state of Colorado is getting ready in case there is ever an Ebola case in the state. On Tuesday officials from the Colorado Department of Health and Environment spoke about what they've been doing to prepare for any cases that could make its way to Colorado. The meeting in the department's operations center was meant to alleviate fears about any possible Ebola outbreak in Colorado.
Health care professionals, as well as representatives from Denver International Airport, were at the event to answer questions.
"You know we have to be worried about anything that has the potential to pose a threat, so that's why we like to be prepared," said Dr. Larry Wolk, Colorado Department of Public Health Director. "I think the likelihood still remains very low, but having said that, that doesn't give us an excuse not to be prepared."
There are currently about 260 people being observed for Ebola after they had contact with a patient. Two Texas nurses continue to recover after they treated a man infected with Ebola .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has just increased the safety precautions health care professionals must now take. The last time they updated that information it was inadequate because the two nurses still became sick. Health care workers treating an Ebola patient now must use protective gear that leaves no skin or hair exposed -- and use a respirator.
"One of the critical aspects of these guidelines is a very structured way of doing that step by step, which is supervised and in a way ritualized," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said.
Those traveling from West African countries dealing with Ebola must now travel through one of five U.S. airports that have enhanced screening for Ebola.