Monroe County officials are trying to reassure the public that although the possibility of there being an outbreak of Ebola in this area is remote, they are prepared to deal with that kind of a situation.
Public Health Director Dr. Byron Kennedy says his agency will help monitor cases of people who may have traveled to West African countries and who become ill. He says that travel history is key, since this time of year, there are a lot of other viruses going around, such as the flu.
"We know that with influenza many folks are going to have fevers, they're going to have some fatigue, a little bit of malaise, have a sore throat, maybe even a cough, but those happen to be symptoms that are very common to what a person with Ebola might have, but not having that travel history, that's not something that someone who has not had that travel history needs to be worried about. "
Kennedy says in a case where Ebola is suspected, the person who doesn't feel well should stay home and call 911, and dispatchers are trained on what protocols to follow.
Other agencies in Monroe County are also ready to deal with the possibility of an Ebola case, even if it is unlikely. The Airport director says if someone suspected to have the illness arrives on an incoming flight, airport firefighters would be the people to first meet the plane on the tarmac before it pulls into the terminal.
