[Students] TAMUC Ebola Response

[Derek Preas]

The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa. Although the risk of an Ebola outbreak in the United States is very low, CDC and partners are taking precautions to prevent this from happening. Texas A&M University - Commerce, the City of Commerce, Hunt County Emergency Management, Hunt Regional Healthcare agencies, and multiple other local agencies are monitoring the situation and coordinating situational updates together.
During outbreaks of Ebola, those at highest risk include healthcare workers and the family and friends of a person infected with Ebola. Diagnosing Ebola in a person who has been infected for only a few days is difficult because the early symptoms, such as fever, are not specific to Ebola infection and are seen often in patients with more commonly occurring diseases. Currently there are no specific vaccines or medicines (such as antiviral drug) that have been proven to be effective against Ebola.
A person infected with Ebola can't spread the disease until symptoms appear. The time from exposure to when signs or symptoms of the disease appear (the incubation period) is 2 to 21 days, but the average time is 8 to 10 days. Signs of Ebola include fever (higher than 101.5°F) and symptoms like severe headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, or unexplained bleeding or bruising.
Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood and body fluids. Ebola is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with:

  *   Blood and body fluids (like urine, feces, saliva, vomit, sweat, and semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola.
  *   Objects (like needles) that have been contaminated with the blood or body fluids of a person sick with Ebola.
  *   Ebola is not spread through the air, water, or food.


To protect yourself from Ebola

  *   DO wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  *   Do NOT touch the blood or body fluids (like urine, feces, saliva, vomit, sweat, and semen) of people who are sick.
  *   Do NOT handle items that may have come in contact with a sick person's blood or body fluids, like clothes, bedding, needles, or medical equipment.


Many of the prevention methods for other illnesses (such as seasonal influenza) provide similar prevention assistance:

  *   Practice good hygiene; wash hands often, avoid contact with bodily fluids of those who are sick
  *   Get a flu vaccine each season
  *   Try to avoid close contact with sick people
  *   Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way.
  *   Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.


There are many resources available for education, recommendations, and status updates. Following are a few of those available:

CDC

http://www.cdc.gov/



World Health Organization (WHO)

http://www.who.int/en/



Texas Department of State Health Services

https://www.dshs.state.tx.us/



Hunt Regional Medical Center

http://www.huntregional.org/Articles/ebola_virus_preparedness.aspx



Texas A&M University - Commerce Department of Safety

http://www.tamuc.edu/facultyStaffServices/riskManagementSafety/default.aspx


The university is taking several preventative steps for both the Ebola situation and seasonal influenza.

  *   Additional sanitization efforts are beginning in common areas and areas of high traffic.
  *   Situational updates are shared between Texas A&M University - Commerce, City of Commerce Emergency Management, Hunt County Emergency Management, the Hospital District, and State and Federal agencies.
  *   Public Service statements are being prepared for informational updates for our faculty, staff, and students
  *   Guidance and recommendations from the CDC and local health agencies are being followed and monitored.


The university will provide additional updates and information as new developments and situations change. For the latest Texas A&M University - Commerce update, please visit our website<http://www.tamuc.edu/facultyStaffServices/riskManagementSafety/default.aspx>.
*Parts of this release came from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: http://www.cdc.gov/



Ethan Derek Preas | Director
Department of Safety and Risk Management | Texas A&M University-Commerce
Derek.Preas at tamuc.edu<mailto:Derek.Preas at tamuc.edu>

P.O. Box 3011 | Commerce, Tx 75429-3011
Tel. 903.468.8781 | Cell 903.268.1145 | Fax 903.468.8189 | www.tamuc.edu

Texas A&M University-Commerce


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