Proper Procedures, Gear, Training Necessary To Protect HCWs When Treating Ebola Patients

News outlets report on the challenges of protecting health care workers who treat Ebola patients.

The Guardian: Challenge of keeping frontline Ebola healthcare workers alive
“Health workers on the Ebola frontline are and always have been at the highest risk of contracting the disease. … But in countries such as the U.S. and Spain, which have sophisticated health care systems and well-equipped hospitals, health care workers should be safe. It is shocking that workers in Spain and now Texas have contracted Ebola from patients they were treating…” (Boseley, 10/12).

ScienceInsider: Ebola infection in Dallas nurse underscores critical need for proper training
“…The [Dallas nurse Ebola] case has similarities to that of a nurse infected in a Spanish hospital after taking care of a priest who had contracted the disease in Sierra Leone, and both raise questions about the training procedures that hospital staff receive before they come into contact with Ebola patients…” (Cohen, 10/12).

Scientific American: Ebola Spread Shows Flaws in Protective Gear and Procedures
“Physicians, nurses and other medical staff who are the first line of defense against the spread of Ebola are not always adequately protected from the virus, a situation that has contributed to more than 200 health worker deaths in West Africa since the outbreak began in December 2013. As the virus spreads outside of Africa, so do reports that problems with procedures, protective equipment, and training for using that equipment are putting health workers at risk…” (Greenemeier, 10/10).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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