Mendocino County >> In 2014 the United States went to work on Ebola preparedness as the outbreak in Africa grew and the possibility of travelers from that part of our world coming to the U.S. with the disease increased. Preparedness activities began throughout California and across the nation. In Mendocino County, the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) assembled the Ebola Preparedness Response Team (EPRT) with members from Public Health, Environmental Health, the Public Health Officers, Administration and the local health community. The focus was on preparedness and education.
HHSA Public Health staff has been working with rural health clinics throughout the county, providing support and consultation trainings and procedures to assure that a safe and consistent response is in place. HHSA has acquired Personal Preparedness Equipment (PPE) for a county cache to be available for any health facility in our county if needed in response to a possible Ebola case. Currently California has approximately 30-40 persons who are being monitored for Ebola symptoms. Mendocino County continues to have none.
While the Ebola topic has waned somewhat, other infectious diseases pose more of an immediate challenge to local communities such as the seasonal flu, whooping cough and, most recently in the news, the measles. Critical lessons have been learned during drills and exercises and the work done on Ebola preparedness is now serving medical facilities with a better way to handle incoming patients with symptoms for these and other contagious conditions. For example, patients suffering symptoms that can be contagious are encouraged to call ahead before visiting their doctor, local hospital or clinic. This allows the facility to prepare for the visit and to prevent exposure to other patients and staff while taking care of the needs of the ill patient. This is just one example; many other procedures have been put in place for the safety of patients and health staff while delivering quality care.
