By Caribbean Medical News Staff
Even though the news media seems to have shifted its focus from Ebola to November elections, the Centres for Disease Control is stockpiling PPEs to handle any increase in Ebola patients in the United States and allow for seamless protocols which address Ebola treatment and guidelines across the US.
In its November 7th statement, the CDC says it has spent $2.7 million on personal protective equipment (PPEs) to be further configured into 50 kits to be urgently sent to any US hospital where an Ebola emergency arises and if needed.
After a gruelling time on Capitol Hill, CDC changed its guidelines after heavy criticism that suggested that the US was not ready to deal with Ebola after two nurses contracted Ebola treating the late Eric Duncan who died of the disease.
Others had been diagnosed with the illness and were treated and discharged. Their treatment included dialysis, the donation of blood plasma in some cases from survivor Dr. Kent Bradly and their interventions.
Just recently another US doctor was discharged after receiving plasma from a survivor but no US citizen has died from the disease.
CDC has said that all healthcare workers will be required to wear fluid-resistant gowns, shoe coverings, gloves, a head covering hood, face mask and be completely covered using the buddy system to ensure that all safety protocols are observed while treating patients for Ebola.
“We are making certain to not disrupt the orders submitted by states and hospitals, but we are building our stocks so that we can assist when needed,” said Greg Burel, director of CDC’s Division of Strategic National Stockpile, in the CDC release.
