Can Ebola Spread to Raleigh NC?

The Ebola scare has swept the globe, but is ebola coming to Raleigh NC? The brutal nature of the ebola virus and the fact that there is no known absolute cure, makes Ebola in Raleigh a serious threat if medical professionals aren't prepared to contain it properly. News stories are breaking around the world that the virus is spreading to different West African nations, more cases are being found everyday and there has even been a confirmed case of transmission of the virus in the U.S. However, how likely is it that the Ebola virus could spread to Raleigh?

Why is Ebola so hard to contain?

The CDC claims that symptoms of the virus can be experienced within 2 to 21 days after exposure to the Ebola virus. This has been disturbing to health officials because of the amount of time it could take for infected individuals to notice symptoms. It is entirely possible for people who have come into contact with the virus to travel and come into contact with numerous people before they realize they are infected.

What about the U.S.?

The question from most Americans is... Can Ebola spread to Raleigh North Carolina? Most experts are saying "no". There are a couple significant differences in why Ebola spreads in West Africa and would have a hard time spreading in the U.S. Western health systems are better equipped to deal with the spreading of a deadly virus, according to Derek Gatherer, a virus expert at Lancaster University in the U.K. Gatherer claims that Western medicine would be prepared to deal with the virus, because Western countries are aware of people coming from Ebola-affected areas. Dr. William Schaffner of Vanderbilt University Medical Center agrees that Ebola would have a difficult time spreading in the U.S. Ebola is contagious through close contact with bodily fluids. Because of this, it is possible to have a small number of cases occur in isolated medical areas where medical staff comes into close contact with patients' bodily fluids. However, isolation procedures would not allow further spread of the virus. In West African countries tradition involves an intimate burial process that also facilitates the spread of the virus, as the virus can still be transmitted after death. In U.S. and other Western nations where the burial process involves less direct contact, the virus is less likely to spread this way.

Fighting Ebola around the World

Two American Ebola patients have also recovered from the virus and are now infection-free. Both patients received an experimental drug called ZMapp, however their recovery is likely more attributed to prompt, quality medical care. Dr. Bruce Ribner from Emory University's Infectious Disease Unit claims that they don't know whether the experimental drug helped, made no difference or delayed recovery time for the patients. However, three doctors in Liberia who received the ZMapp treatment are showing signs of improvement, Liberian health officials claim. However, one thing is for certain, quality medical care that is administered soon after a patient is infected is an important line of defense in fighting the Ebola virus. Western healthcare systems that have isolation plans and quality medical care in place fair far better and are better equipped to prevent the spread of Ebola. Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel of the University of Pennsylvania emphasizes that the international community needs to focus on strengthening the infrastructure of nations that are experiencing Ebola outbreaks and have health systems that aren't adequate to contain and treat the virus.

How is Wake Internal Medicine dealing with possible spread of Ebola in Raleigh NC?

Wake Internal Medicine Consultants' goal is to provide Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas with quality medical care in a safe environment. At WIMC, we also have an interest in informing the public on medical issues and current events in the medical field. WIMC has two Infection Control Officers and we are keeping up-to-date with the latest Ebola news through the Wake County Department of Health & Human Services and the Federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Information and recommendations are changing rapidly and many unknown factors related to the Ebola virus remain. In many ways, Ebola is not different from any other infectious disease that we encounter on a regular basis. Ebola is not airborne and is not spread by casual contact; but, it is transmitted by exposure to bodily fluids such as blood, sweat, urine, etc. We have always practiced the universal precautions such as use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) kits, gloves, frequent hand washing, use of hand sanitizer and will continue to do so. In between patients, every table, counter, door knob, sink, etc. is cleaned with a solution proven to kill EBOLA and to eliminate transmission of any diseases, viruses and/or bacteria. If nothing else, the Ebola scare has heightened everyone’s awareness of the importance of adhering to these essential universal precautions. As an additional safety measure all WIMC phone agents responsible for booking appointments will be asking ALL patients if they have traveled outside of the country in the last 30 days or have been in contact with anyone who has. IF the patient answers yes to that travel question, one of our Infection Control Officers will get engaged for further telephone triage with patient and medical staff at WIMC. We take very seriously and put the health and safety of our patients and our staff as a top priority. You can be certain we will remain diligent in emphasizing this point as we are confronted with circumstances like the Ebola virus scare.