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Central Coast prepares for possibility of local Ebola case

Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Concern over the possibility that the Ebola virus could makes its way to the Central Coast has local health agencies working on outbreak plans. 

Santa Barbara County Public Health says it has new protocols in place and is teaming with local airports to help identify potential patients. County Health Officer, Dr. Charity Thoman, says the infrastructure put in place could deal with a number of different infectious diseases.

While Ebola is the headline maker currently, because it is so mysterious, Thoman says there are other, more serious health concerns we should address;

“The familiarity of obesity and diabetes has caused people to lose their fear of it. Ebola, however, is a huge unknown," said Thoman. "So it’s much easier for someone who is obese and unhealthy to develop this huge fear of Ebola rather than addressing their real health problem, that’s on their plate in front of them today.”

The doctor also says we're far more likely to die from influenza than from Ebola, and influenza is preventable with a vaccine.

A practice Ebola drill is scheduled next month in Santa Barbara County with several government agencies and local hospitals taking part.

Dr. Penny Borenstein with San Luis Obispo County Public Health agrees with Thoman regarding the more immediate threats facing local residents, but understands a need to plan for the remote possibility that an infected person could make their way to the Central Coast.

Borenstein said her department is working with local hospitals, EMS, and dispatch on methods for screening those potentially infected with Ebola.

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