Watch above: Ebola scare in Saskatchewan prompts increased vigilance
SASKATOON – The fear of Ebola is growing once again, this time closer to home.
On Tuesday, Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region’s Ebola preparedness was put to the test. Staff activated the region’s Ebola plan after a patient presented with flu-like symptoms similar to those associated with Ebola and was too sick to confirm their travel history.
The patient ended up having a confirmed case of the flu but on Wednesday there were questions about how prepared staff were.
“We are rolling out more intensive training to use this more advice PPE that will include drills and simulations and hopefully we will be able to cover all of our front line staff with that extended training,” Dr. Jessica Minion, a medical microbiologist with the Regina Qu’Appelle Health Region.
Last week, Saskatoon’s Health Region (SHR) confirmed it started PPE or personal protective equipment training in emergency at St. Paul’s Hospital. The protective gear includes an impervious gown, booties, a face mask and head covering as well as goggles and a face shield.
“There are no short cuts, we learned that, take the time you need and do it properly and make sure you’re comfortable in your PPE before you get into your patient area and you have everything you need because you’re not going to be able to walk in and out,” said Dr. Johnmark Opondo, deputy medical health officer for SHR.
Possible scenarios for how the Ebola virus could pop up in our region have been assessed and key steps in the care of a patient outlined. Health officials have also established that St. Paul’s Hospital will be the preferred site for any suspected cases of Ebola and paramedics have been directed to take patients there.
“Now we’re trying to ope-rationalize the preferred site so that needs staffing, it needs a review and a review of all the infection control, the system controls that we need to put into place,” added Opondo.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) the total number of cases of Ebola is now 13,703 with almost 5,000 deaths. The hardest hit regions are countries in West Africa which is why if a patient presents with a fever Saskatoon health care providers ask about travel history.
“If we had an Ebola patient come to our facility and this patient would be cared for in the best standards and I think we would be fine.”
Health region officials say they’re not stopping there because they owe it to their patients to aim for the highest standards.
“What we need to do now is practice and practice and practice,” explained Opondo.
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