Some Island County residents are currently in West Africa and will be returning under scrutiny for possible Ebola exposure, according to Keith Higman, the county’s public health director.
Higman said staff members track people in the community who come in for vaccinations prior to traveling abroad, so they know there are Island County residents currently in West Africa.
The Centers for Disease Control set up a structured system, based on science, to deal with the returning people, said Higman.
The returnees all must reenter the country through one of five designated airports — all located on the East Coast. There, it will be determined if they are symptomatic.
Travelers who show possible symptoms of Ebola will be treated where they landed.
Those without symptoms will be able to return to their homes. Their home states will be notified; the states will notify their local health departments.
For those returning to Island County, Higman said, Health Department staff will contact the individuals. The health officer will follow a CDC guidance document in assessing risk for each person.
The risk is based on the possibility of exposure.
People who worked in health care systems in West Africa, for example, probably have a greater risk than vacationers.
Those deemed higher on the risk scale will receive greater monitoring.
The health officer has the authority under state law to quarantine individuals, Higman explained. Washington state has three levels of quarantine. The first is voluntary. The second is an administrative order by the health officer. The third is a court order.
Higman said the Health Department would only seek a court order for non-compliant people.
The issue made headlines after a nurse who returned to her home state of Maine after treating Ebola patients in Sierra Leone refused to remain under quarantine. She tested negative for the deadly disease twice, but is still within the 21-day incubation period.
Higman said the county Health Department hosted a meeting this week about Ebola response with first-responders and staff from both hospitals that cover Island County to ensure everyone is prepared.
Dr. Brad Thomas, the county’s health officer, said he polled everyone at the meeting and nobody felt that Island County would see Ebola.
Still, he said the county will be prepared.
Higman agreed that there’s no reason for panic. He said he and other health officials were questioning why the disease has gotten so much more attention than other epidemics over the years.
Perhaps it’s the exotic-sounding name, he opined, or the high mortality rate in Africa.
“My guess would be the fatality rate is much lower in this country,” he said, citing the superior public health and health care system.
