Tag - Ebola

EBOLA OUTBREAK IN DRC IS OVER

IN THE NEWS EBOLA OUTBREAK IN DRC IS OVER As of July 24, 2018, the Health Minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared the Ebola outbreak over in his country, after the completion of two incubation periods since the last treated patient, without any more cases confirmed.   Both the WHO and CDC concurred with his entire message. A 90-day enhanced surveillance period will be in place in case there are latent infections or missed exposures.  Ultimately, there were 54...

Ebola Outbreak June 30, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak June 30, 2018 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the WHO updated Ebola virus disease (EVD case numbers on June 28 to a total of 55 cases with 38 Confirmed, 15 Probable, & 2 suspected, and a 29-person death toll. There have been no cases in any country aside from the DRC.  A statement by the DRC Minister of Health (via Google Translation), regarding the current outbreak, announced that all the people who were in...

Ebola Outbreak June 15, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak June 15, 2018 The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the WHO updated Ebola cases numbers on June 13 to a total of 66 cases with 38 Confirmed, 14 Probable, & 14 suspected, with a 28-person death toll. There still have been no cases in the United States or in any country aside from the DRC. In the outbreak area, over 2600 Ebola contacts and other high-risk individuals, such as health care workers and others in contact...

Ebola Outbreak June 8, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak June 8, 2018 Although the CDC has not posted updated numbers since the May 18th Notice, Dr. Peter Salama, the Deputy Director-General for Emergency Response, updated the cases numbers to a total of 60 cases with 37 Confirmed, 14 Probable, 9 suspected, with a 27-person death toll. Over 1100 contacts and high-risk individuals, such as health care workers and others providing care have been vaccinated with a promising but still experimental vaccine from Merck; several treatment protocols...

Ebola Outbreak May 31, 2018

IN THE NEWS Ebola Outbreak May 31, 2018 As you are no doubt aware from the media, there is an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  There are no cases in the United States or in any country aside from the DRC. The World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee met May 18th and decided that the outbreak should not be considered an International Health Event, at least at this time, but is of concern and will be closely monitored...

Ebola Outbreak May 2018

As you are no doubt aware from the media, there is an outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  There are no cases in the United States or in any country aside from the DRC. The World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee met May 18th and decided that the outbreak should not be considered an International Health Event, at least at this time, but is of concern and will be closely monitored by WHO, CDC & other international...

CDC Grant Opportunity – Ebola Preparedness and Response Activities

The CDC is awarding a total of $145 million in supplemental funding to the current 62 Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) cooperative agreement awardees to support accelerated Ebola public health preparedness planning and response. The Ebola supplemental funding budget period and project period are 18 months: April 1, 2015,through September 30, 2016. This funding is intended to support the nation’s public health system and to assure readiness and response capability to respond effectively to Ebola virus disease (EVD) within the community. Funds are intended...

ISDS Webinar – EMS & Ebola

The 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, affecting multiple countries in West Africa and beyond. EMS providers have to be prepared to treat or transport suspected or known Ebola patients. Join FirstWatch President and long-time advocate for the value of EMS data for public health surveillance, Todd Stout and former Chief Medical Officer for the US Department of Homeland Security, Alex Garza, MD, MPH as they discuss how EMS services in the USA and Canada responded to the...

Wrap-Up: Ebola International Webinar Discussion

We recognize that Ebola is still an issue across the world, however it seems to be generally contained to the few suffering countries for now. As a result, we held our last webinar Thursday, January 8th which included a summary of our previous sessions, discussion of what we learned from this experience, and review of things that could be improved for similar events going forward. These webinars would not have been possible without the support of our participants, guest speakers, moderators...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The eighth webinar held on Thursday, December 18th included featured guest speaker Dr. Ed Racht, Chief Medical Officer at AMR, who discussed their comprehensive approach to transporting Ebola patients in Dallas, TX. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC), the National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA), and the International Academies of...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The sixth webinar held on Thursday November 20th included special guest presenter Dr. Richard Alcorta, acting Co-Executive Director and State EMS Medical Director at MEIMSS, who spoke to Maryland's statewide implementation of the IAED EID tool and their findings so far. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC), the National...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The fifth webinar held on Thursday November 6th included special guests Peter Simpson, Clinical Operations Manager, East of England Ambulance Trust, Norwich, United Kingdom and Catherine Jackson-Cole, Ambulance Coordinator, Pharmacist and Medical Student , Sierra Leone, West Africa. Together they provided us with on the ground perspective of the Ebola virus straight from the Command Center in Sierra Leone. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The seventh webinar held on Thursday November 4th included featured guest speakers, Battalion Chief Edward Bergamini and Captain Paul Miano of FDNY who shared with us their experience transporting Dr. Craig Spencer who returned from Africa, developed Ebola symptoms, and then cleared his 21 day monitoring. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any public safety agency led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The fourth webinar held on Thursday October 30th included special guest Russell MacDonald, MD, MPH, FRCPC, Associate Professor and Co-Director of Emergency Medicine at the University of Toronto, Medical Director and Chair of the Quality Care Committee for Ornge Transport Medicine, Medical Advisor at Toronto Paramedic Services and Attending Staff member, Emergency Services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Dr. Russell provided us with the "101" of Ebola as he discussed where the disease came from, it's current status, the facts...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The third webinar held on Thursday October 23rd included special guests Alexander Isakov, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director, Section of Prehospital and Disaster Medicine at the Emory University School of Medicine, with Wade Milles, Interim Director of EMS Operations and Aaron Jamison, Special Operations Team Captain at Grady EMS.Together they detailed their experience in transporting and treating a confirmed Ebola patient from Dallas. The Paramedic Chiefs of Canada continued their weekly international webinar discussion open to any...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

The second webinar held on Thursday October 16th included special guests Dr. Jeff Clawson and Dr. Conrad Fivaz of IAED, who explained the newly updated ProQA Emerging Infectious Disease tool, Lloyd Rupp Jr., EMS Chief Omaha Fire Department, and Dr. John Lowe, Director for Public Health Training and Exercise Programs for the the Center of Bio Preparedness Education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) who discussed their experience in the transportation of two Ebola patients. The Paramedic Chiefs of...

International Webinar Discussion on Ebola

This weeks webinar features special guest Chief Normal Seals, EMS Chief at the Dallas Fire Department who spoke to his agency's experience with Ebola and fielded questions. With growing attention on the Ebola virus, the Paramedic Chiefs of Canada have began a weekly international webinar discussion open to interested participants led by representatives from our FirstWatch team. These webinars are presented in association with the International Association of EMS Chiefs (IAEMSC), the National EMS Management Association (NEMSMA), and the International Academies...

Ebola – a Disaster in the Making

Download PDF  The CDC recently released a report stating that if there is no action on tackling the Ebola virus, their models predict 1.4 million persons will become infected by January 2015. U.S. officials are very concerned about the possibility of cases being introduced on US soil with the CDC offering guidance to healthcare facilities and EMS. To learn more about the 13 CDC based recommendations for EMS, download the PDF.

Ebola Virus Update

The CDC has posted interim guidance for Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Systems and 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) for management of patients with known or suspected Ebola Virus Disease in the United States. Please note: This information supersedes any information we have previously posted on the Ebola Virus. Click here to view their recommendations