El Paso emergency crews prepare for infectious diseases, Ebola

Emergency crews in El Paso said they are confident they are ready for an infectious disease outbreak.

With flu season right around the corner, people could be getting the winter bugs but think it’s something worse.

Flu symptoms mirror Ebola symptoms, which are:
– Fever
– Severe headache
– Muscle pain
– Weakness
– Diarrhea
– Vomiting
– Stomach pain

“We have in place a protocol in dispatch to filter these calls,” said Fire Chief of Operations Samuel Rodriguez.

El Paso EMS crews have a couple lines of defense before transporting a potential Ebola patient to the area hospital.

irst, the dispatcher on the other end of the 911 call will ask CDC- approved questions to learn is someone is being a drama queen or actually dealing with an infectious disease.

After asking about symptom, the next questions are within the last 21 days, has the patient traveled from a country with widespread Ebola transmission, or has the patient had contract with an Ebola patient?

“If the call is just simple flu-like symptoms, we let our companies know that,” Rodriguez said. “It takes a lot for our companies to elevate to something where we think someone has Ebola.”

Even so, EMS crews will be warned to get out their Body Substance Isolation pack. Inside is a mask goggles, a gown, gloves.

While wearing this, the EMS worker will also evaluate the 911 caller for alarming details, like just having traveled from West Africa or unexplained bleeding along with a high fever and vomiting.

If it looks like the deadly virus, El Paso EMS will call in another unit with the thick, hazmat suits.

“We have a plan in place,” Rodriguez said.