Update on Patient with Possible Ebola Virus - October 3, 2015 - 6:00 p.m. (MST)
Primary Children’s Hospital has now eliminated the possibility of the Ebola virus. The sample sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Thursday, Oct. 2, has tested negative for Ebola virus and the patient has been discharged.
Primary Children’s Hospital admitted a patient earlier this week, who had traveled to an area of west Africa not currently affected with Ebola, who presented with symptoms that raised some concerns for the Ebola virus.
“Primary Children’s used this opportunity to test our preparedness systems and ensure that they worked as planned,” says Andrew Pavia, MD, Primary Children’s Hospital’s Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. “The possibility, though extraordinarily rare, that this patient had Ebola posed enough concern that we felt it was important to activate our preparedness plan and make sure we were taking all necessary precautions.”
Primary Children’s Hospital and other large referral hospitals in Utah have been developing Ebola preparedness plans for more than two months. This planning has taken place in consultation with the Utah Department of Health and the CDC.
Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, held a press conference and released the following statement - October 2, 2015 - 1:00 p.m. (MST)
Primary Children’s Hospital has admitted a patient, who had traveled to an area of west Africa not currently affected with Ebola. The patient presented with symptoms that raised some concerns. However, based on what we know so far, it is extremely unlikely that this is Ebola.
We are taking this opportunity to use our preparedness systems and ensure that they work well. In addition to maximally protecting our staff and patients, we’re working with the Centers for Disease Control to completely eliminate the possibility of Ebola.
Even if Ebola were to be seen in the hospital, it is important to know that it would pose no risk to other staff, patients or visitors, since Ebola is not airborne and not easily transmitted.
Primary Children’s Hospital, and other large referral hospitals in Utah, has been developing an Ebola preparedness plan for more than two months. This planning has taken place in consultation with the Utah Department of Health and the CDC. We are prepared to isolate persons who may have exposure, test for Ebola, and provide care. We are confident if we had a patient with Ebola that we could provide care safely.
