Ebola Confirmed in America: Here’s What You Need To Do Right Now

(A sign in the Congo warns visitors that the area is Ebola infected. Credit: Sergey Uryadnikov / Shutterstock.com )

We knew it was only a matter of time, since the United States has put no restrictions on international travel.

Ebola has now been confirmed in Dallas, Texas.

The United States has one confirmed case of Ebola, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday, marking the first domestic appearance of the deadly virus that has ravaged swaths of continental Africa.

The as-yet unidentified patient is located in Dallas, officials say, effectively confirming a statement issued on Monday by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. The organization said that an unnamed patient was being tested for Ebola and had been placed in “strict isolation” due to the patient’s symptoms and recent travel history.

“The patient is an adult with a recent history of travel to West Africa,” said Texas’ Department of State Health Services, in a statement. “The patient developed symptoms days after returning to Texas from West Africa and was admitted into isolation on Sunday at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.” (source)

Last night Mac Slavo of SHTFplan broke the story that a patient had been admitted to the hospital with the tell-tale symptoms and suspect travel history.

Multiple news sources are reporting that an individual showing symptoms of the Ebola virus has been admitted to a hospital in Dallas, Texas. The patient, whose travel history suggests he or she may have been exposed to the virus, has been isolated and Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas says it is following testing and quarantine procedures outlined by the Centers for Disease Control.

Test samples have been sent to the CDC and preliminary test results are expected Tuesday morning. (source)

If you haven’t already finalized your preparations for a pandemic, now is the time. The following is an excerpt from an article written on September 15, 2014.

What You Need Right Now

Right now, before panic ensues, you need to ensure that you have everything you need to survive as though the world we know has ended. You need to be prepared to stay in your home for weeks, if not months. You need to be ready for a potential disruption of services.

Best case scenario: You get these supplies,  the outbreak never occurs, and you can dole them out into your regular usage or stash them with your prepper stockpile while snickering at the crazy preppers.

Worst case scenario: You read this warning, you do nothing, and then the outbreak occurs. You realize that the prepper folks aren’t so crazy after all. But by then, it will be too late to stock up.

Following is a list of supplies that you may soon need:

• Drinking water (1 gallon per person per day)
• Food (including items that don’t require fuel for preparation)
• Heavy duty garbage bags
• Sanitation supplies such as toilet paper, paper towels, baby wipes, and feminine hygiene supplies)
• Entertainment – you’ll want to be able to keep children and restless family members  busy so get craft supplies, books, games, and puzzles
• Basic medical supplies (here’s a list)
• Pandemic kits that contain protective clothing (we have a QuakeKare Deluxe Pandemic Flu Kit for each family member)
• Extra N95 masks (3M 1860 Health Care N95 Particulate Respirator and Surgical Mask, Small Adult, 20/Bx)
• Nitrile gloves (Dynarex Black Nitrile Exam Gloves, Heavy-Duty, Powder Free, Large, Box/100)
• Safety goggles with an elastic band to ensure a snug fit (Pyramex V2G Safety Eyewear, Clear Anti-Fog Lens With Black Strap/Temples)
• Antibacterial cleaners such as disposable wipes, bleach, and spray cleaners
• Antibacterial hand sanitizer (Purell Pump Bottle, Original, 8 Ounce (Pack of 12))

In the event you have no choice but to leave your home, Mac Slavo recommends the following:

If you’re forced to exit your home, you’re going to want to be fully protected, and that includes covering your hands, eyes, nose, and mouth.

In addition to the N-95 respirator masks mentioned above, you may also consider upgrading to the more expensive N-100 respirators recommended by the World Health Organization.

Or, go with a full facemask. Insofar as your preparedness efforts are concerned, you may also be able to kill two birds with one stone here and go with a full face mask that includes NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) protection like the US-made NATO SGE 400/3 Military Gas Mask.  If going with such a mask, be sure to include some NBC filters.

If a family member becomes ill, Tess Pennington of  Ready Nutrition recommends building a sick room that can be used to isolate suspected infections or even to be used as a quarantine/observation area for friends and family who may be coming to your home as part of your group lockdown plan.

Building a sick room may include supplies like:

• Heavy Duty Plastic Sheeting to go over doors, windows or other potential airborne entry points (4 millimeter home coverall)
• Duct tape
• Portable toilet if one is not attached directly to the sick room (Luggable Loo)
• Disposable trash and toilet bags *Note: Waste must be disposed of properly because it may be contaminated*
• Click here for a complete list of items for a well stocked sick room

Don’t wait.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. By the time the CDC gets around to offering checklists to the rest of us, items like these will be in short supply. If you are unprepared, you’ll be at the mercy of organizations like FEMA, who will be doling out water bottles and MREs to those who are likewise hungry and thirsty.

To learn more about preparing for a real SHTF scenario like an Ebola pandemic, look to the following for  in-depth, practical advice:

Ebola Survival Handbook: A Collection of Tips, Strategies, and Supply Lists From Some of the World’s Best Preparedness Professionals

Prepping for an Ebola Lockdown

Pandemic Watch Facebook page

The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster

The Pantry Primer: How to Build a One Year Food Supply in Three Months