By Brant Hilton

The province has plans to fight Ebola

Oct 17, 2014 | 6:43 AM

The province of Saskatchewan confirms a plan is in place and preparations are being made just in case Ebola spreads above the border.

Since August, the province has been working on a plan and has designated hospitals in Regina and Saskatoon to deal with it.

The province has also been sharing information with health care providers.

“Our priority right from the start was to get information out as quickly as possible so we could rapidly identify a person with a travel history who may have symptoms,” said Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Denise Werker.

Saskatchewan does have the proper equipment in place. Werker describes it as being nothing special and is designed to deal with illnesses such as Ebola.

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“If the personal protective equipment gets contaminated health care workers need to take the up-most care in taking it off,” said Werker.

That’s when health care workers are most at risk of catching the virus. Meanwhile, Hospital staff are beginning to receive training.

“We recognize that there is probably not enough training out there in terms of that and that is something we are now ready to begin to roll out.”

The province is also working with the Public Health Agency of Canada to help develop the training.

Ebola can only be spread through bodily fluids and the virus needs to be well-established within the individual before it becomes infectious.

If a possible case does appear in Saskatchewan tests would be sent to the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg. Werker stated the province does not have the proper infrastructure to test for Ebola.

Werker reiterates people should not be worried here.

“Just because there’s Ebola in Texas doesn’t mean the risk has increased in Canada.”

Werker is more concerned about the situation in West Africa as the virus continues to kill people every day.

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