B.C.’s Ebola protocols under microscope
NEWS/ HEALTH — Equipment standards for dealing with a potential Ebola outbreak will be reviewed over the weekend and protocols updated next week, says B.C. Health Minister Terry Lake.
In an update Friday, Lake said health authorities have been reviewing and updating their equipment inventories and looking at designating a single referral hospital to treat possible Ebola cases in the Lower Mainland as well as other referral hospitals in regional health authorities.
A task force is also reviewing training in health authority regions to ensure consistency.
“Our experiences with the SARS outbreak in 2003 and H1N1 in 2009 have shown that British Columbians can be confident of our preparedness and a vigilant response in the low likelihood that a case of Ebola materializes in B.C.,” Lake said.
“It is worth reiterating that while the cases of transmission to health-care workers in Dallas are concerning to us, we can learn from those experiences and we will follow the findings from that investigation to help inform any updates to our plan.”
He said the risk in B.C. remains low. Lake’s statement follows up on one he issued Wednesday.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Thank goodness the nurses pushed this issue into the public arena. The political spin notwithstanding, the front line workers who are at the greatest risk have clearly not been given the training, equipment and assistance they need to ensure that they, their families and the rest of us are kept safe in the event an ebola case ends up on our doorstep. This issue needs to be addressed well beyond the nursing staff. Lab techs, cleaning, admin staff – all need to be well versed in proper procedures and protocol. I can’t say I’m comforted by Mr. Lake’s assurances that this is actually underway – let’s hope he’s right and the risk of an incident remains low.
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