Tri-County Health Departments and St. Charles
Monitor Possible Portland Ebola Case
State health officials announced in a press conference today that a woman who has been under monitoring for Ebola has been isolated at a Portland-area hospital and is no danger to the public.
The woman had recently traveled to one of the three countries where the Ebola outbreak is occurring—Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone—and was being actively monitored by public health officials. She developed a sustained fever this morning, after which she received an in-person assessment by an EMS team wearing personal protective equipment. At about 1:00 p.m., she was transported to Providence Milwaukie Hospital for further evaluation.
The Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson county health departments and St. Charles Health System are aware of the suspected case and are in close contact with one another and the Oregon Health Authority. While the overall risk of Ebola to residents of the tri-county region is still very low, the threat is being taken seriously and an effective, coordinated response is a great priority.
The county health departments and St. Charles have plans in place to identify and isolate a patient who may have been exposed to the disease.
Deschutes County Health Services Director Jane Smilie commented, “We are taking all steps possible to prepare Central Oregon if a suspect case should occur. State and local health partners are working closely every day to educate and inform the public.”
Additional information can be found at http://public.health.oregon.gov/Pages/Home.aspx. ##
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