Gates Package — page 53

© Disseminating up-to-date information to the general public, international travelers, and public health partners. The recent laboratory confirmation of three cases of Ebola in Dallas, Texas, have revealed the complexities in responding to a highly lethal and infectious pathogen such as Ebola virus. CDC's four decades of experience with Ebola in Africa demonstrate that that the agency knows how to control the disease through thorough case finding, isolation of ill people, contacting people exposed to each ill person, and further isolation of contacts if they develop symptoms. This process also must include proper infection control procedures by those caring for ill While we do not yet know the source of the exposure of the infected health care workers in Dallas, and the investigation is ongoing, CDC has taken immediate steps to improve processes and procedures known to reduce risk to health care personnel. Care for a patient with Ebola requires meticulous attention to detail, and refining these steps makes it safer and easier, CDC's protocol offers a range of choices for implementation, In Dallas, CDC is making specific improvements in the following process and procedures: © Personal protective equipment (PPE) © PPE suits will be standardized, to include a specific type of in both training and use, possibly using only full-body sui current CDC recommendations, © Use of a model of hood that protects health care workers' necks, so necks will not be exposed. o Removing PPE now includes an enhanced and detailed step-by-step disinfection of hands process, with specific sequencing for removal of each piece of equipment and the hand washing. © Oversight and monitoring © The single most important aspect of safe care of Ebola is to have a site manager at all s who oversees the putting on and taking off of PPE and the care given in the isolation unit, A site manager is now in place and will be at Texas Presbyterian Hospital 24/7, as long as Ebola patients are receiving care. © Enhanced training © CDC is providing additional onsite intensive infection control training and education with heath care workers in Dallas, In addition, two infection control nurses from Emory who have experience treating Ebola patients are in Dallas to provide peer-topeer training and support. CDC is also actively engaged with health care systems nationwide to prepare all providers hospitals, state and local health departments, and others involved in public health preparednes and response for the identification and management of a patient with Ebola in the United States. These efforts include providing more opportunities for U.S. health care providers to receive