Despite Governor Andrew Cuomo's insistence that the only thing New Yorkers have to fear is fear itself and not Ebola, the city is nevertheless putting up some safeguards to ensure that if the gruesome, rampant and highly contagious organ-incinerating disease does show up here, we will be ready, the Times reports.
The new protocols are not drastic or unexpected. Callers to 911 complaining of fever, vomiting and other Ebola-like symptoms will be asked whether they've traveled to West Africa in the past three weeks, and if so, whether they've been in contact with someone who is sick. If callers answer affirmatively, medical workers will go ahead and wear protective gear. Easy!
Hospitals are also stepping up their Ebola preparedness game, with "test patients" being planted to assess the reaction of medical staff and an ensuing thorough debriefing. The city is also asking New York's West African population to be screened at a hospital if they suspect they might have the disease, and that care will be available regardless of immigration status or ability to pay.
The federal government is also toying with the idea of enacting more stringent screening efforts at airports, though on Friday officials said increased measures might hamper the efforts of aid workers.
On average, one person per day over the past six weeks has been quarantined in city hospitals due to concern that he or she might be stricken with Ebola. None of the cases tested positive for the disease.
Yesterday marked the first instance of Ebola being contracted outside West Africa, with a Spanish nurse having picked it up treating a patient recently returned from Sierra Leone. In September, a Park Slope-based aid worker self-quarantined in his home for three weeks after realizing he'd come into contact with an Ebola patient, who later died.
This morning, the city's Board of Health will present details on the precautions NYC will take to fortify against the disease. Stay tuned for updates.
