B.C. ready for Ebola, says Lake

NEWS/ HEALTH — B.C. is ready if Ebola shows up here, says Health Minister Terry Lake.

“The risk remains very low. But British Columbians can be assured that hospitals, health authorities and the Ministry of Health are prepared to respond to a case of Ebola in B.C.,” Lake said Wednesday.

“B.C. health authorities have put in place internationally accepted infection control systems and procedures that reflect those being used by experts around the world. These are the same standards being used by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta Georgia; in the U.S. that have cared for Ebola virus disease cases; and by Medecins Sans Frontieres, operating in West Africa.

He B.C.’s front line response is based on experiences in managing the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the H1N1 outbreak in 2009.

“That being said, the safety of staff and patients in dealing with a virus like this is paramount. And the recent case of the transmission of Ebola to a health-care worker in Dallas has highlighted that.

Lake said he spoke last week with the head of the B.C. Nurses’ Union Gayle Duteil who expressed concerns about nurse training and awareness of Ebola. “Nurses, paramedics, doctors and all health-care workers are on the front lines of caring for patients. We want to ensure that these important partners are well equipped to confidently and safely treat people that presents to them for care.

“As a result of the concerns expressed to myself and the ministry, I’ve asked the provincial health officer, Dr. Perry Kendall, to take a close look at the protocols that are in place and to work with public health officials to confirm that hospitals have the equipment and training to recognize and treat patients with possible Ebola, while protecting their health-care staff.”

Kendall has set up a co-ordinating committee of  physicians, infection control experts, nurses, B.C. Ambulance staff and laboratory experts to co-ordinate the response in B.C.

“The first priority of the Health Authorities will be to ensure that health-care workers are confident in and competent with the personal protective equipment available, so that if they have to use it, they can do so safely and with confidence,” Lake said.