Ebola Issue Brief

The 2014 Ebola outbreak has been the most severe to date. West African countries were unprepared to handle such an outbreak due to the lack of medical resources and healthcare professionals on site. The incidence and mortality rates for this strain of Ebola are higher than previously recorded due to the rapid transmission through several African countries and the United States. Collective legislative and emergency efforts are assisting to minimize the spread of the infectious disease and ultimately its containment.

Background

Individuals can contract Ebola only after direct contact with another person, primate, or fruit bat that has displayed symptoms of the illness.1 The incubation period typically lasts between two and twenty-one days until signs and symptoms occur. A typical sign is fever, with symptoms such as fatigue, vomiting, diarrhea, inexplicable bleeding or bruising, and muscle pain. Currently, there is no cure; however, multiple drugs are currently in development and in use for emergency situations.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, and Newark’s University Hospital are New Jersey’s designated Ebola treatment hospitals and have been through emergency drills to test the efficiency of current protocols including: identifying, isolating, transporting, and disposal of medical waste.2 The New Jersey Commissioner of Health, Mary O’Dowd, also requires Ebola training in all acute care hospitals.3 About $1 million worth of Personal Protective Equipment is available to ensure the prevention of transmission of infection to health care workers in New Jersey, along with subsequent training and protocol inspection done by the CDC. All staff members follow an identify, isolate, and inform strategy while designated healthcare professionals further assist the patient to limit exposure.

Governor Chris Christie created a three level approach for citizens who traveled to any West African Ebola flagged country depending on their level of exposure. Symptomatic individuals are taken to a hospital for monitoring,4 others with high risk of exposure are required to be

1 About Ebola Virus Disease. (2014, December 8). Retrieved July 1, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/about.html

2 Washburn, L., & Hayes, M. (2014, October 22). Hackensack among 3 NJ hospitals to be trained to receive Ebola patients. Retrieved July 3, 2015, from http://www.northjersey.com/news/hackensack-among-3-nj-hospitals-to-be-trained-to-receive-ebola-patients-1.1115108

3 English, T. (2014, October 14). N.J hospitals staging Ebola-readiness drills. Retrieved July 6, 2015, from http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/healthscience/73895-nj-hospitals-staging-ebola-readiness-drills-

4 Dawsey, J. (2014, October 21). New Jersey Details Ebola Quarantine Policy. Retrieved July 6, 2015, from http://www.wsj.com/articles/new-jersey-details-ebola-quaratine-policy-1414804720

quarantined at home, and those at low risk are subjected to a 21-day monitoring by healthcare professionals.

Current Law/ Regulations

Hospitals follow protocol created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but the three designated hospitals in New Jersey abide by stricter standards because they handle symptomatic cases. All healthcare professionals are trained in contact, droplet, and airborne transmission precautions while wearing proper equipment, such as gloves, masks, and bodysuits, to completely avoid displaying any skin.

Fort Monmouth serves as the quarantine area for asymptomatic individuals. 5 Bill SR-100 sponsored by Senator Cardinale has been introduced to Senate Health, Human Services, and the Senior Citizens Committee, and discusses the practicality of using former military facilities as quarantine areas, but has not seen any further action in the NJ legislature during the 2014-2015 session.

Full compensation for healthcare workers who are exposed to or contract Ebola and are placed in isolation or quarantine is advocated through bill A-3949 sponsored by Assemblyman Benson. This bill was released from the Assembly Labor Committee during the 2014-2015 session, but has not received any further action from the NJ Legislature at this time.

Improving communication between health care providers is at times difficult to achieve. However, proper communication and access to patient records is essential for effective and efficient care. Bill A-2161 sponsored by Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle was introduced and referred to the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee in the 2014-2015 session. This bill ensures that services from federally qualified health centers are more attainable to the public, as well as, increases the availability of medical information to other healthcare providers in case of an emergency. By granting greater access of care to individuals in low income areas there will be an increase in the number of those receiving preventative services lowering the transmission of infectious diseases like Ebola.

Conclusions

The lack of true infectious disease emergency preparedness has become apparent after this recent Ebola outbreak. The virus is still affecting many people in Western Africa and exposing American healthcare workers aiding their patients. Current legislation is working towards decreasing the possibility of transmission to healthcare workers in the United States. Hospital and quarantine protocol, as well as, screening individuals traveling from affected West African 5 Radel, D. (2015, June 18). Fort to continue ebola quarantine. Retrieved July 6, 2015, from http:://www.app.com/story/news/local/Eatontown-asbury-park/oceanport/2015/06/18/fort-monmouth-ebola-quarantine/28923659/

countries, and issuing 21-day monitoring will prevent further spread to healthcare workers and other individuals.