CDC Directs U.S. Hospitals to Prepare for Ebola

As the Ebola virus outbreak spirals out of control into a world-wide crisis, with a death toll of more than 1,100 and counting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response this week released a checklist for hospitals to help clinicians manage patients carrying the virus.

The checklist aims to give hospital staff, particularly clinical practitioners, and emergency and infection control managers, a rundown of what to review if and when an Ebola patient arrives at their hospitals. Despite the small number of known Ebola virus disease (EVD) cases in the United States, the checklist states, “now is the time to prepare, as it is possible that individuals with EVD in West Africa may travel to the United States, exhibit signs and symptoms of EVD and present to facilities.”

Continue Reading