FORT JACKSON, S.C. (Nov. 6, 2014) -- Installation leadership gathered Tuesday at the Soldier Support Institute to discuss the proactive measures being taken to monitor for potential contacts with the Ebola virus at Fort Jackson.
"This has to be an 'all hands on deck' response plan," Col. Traci Crawford, Moncrief Army Community Hospital commander, told leadership. "It's going to take you guys thinking, in your senior footprint, 'How are we going to execute it?'"
Although it is important to get ahead of any potential crisis, it is highly unlikely the virus will become an issue on post, said Maj. Christopher Wilson, chief of preventive medicine at MACH. People with Ebola are not infectious until they become sick, and even then it is a difficult virus to transmit, he said.
"It does require direct contact with a person who actively has symptoms, or contact with blood or bodily fluids of somebody with Ebola," he said. "Only someone who is sick with Ebola can transmit."
Symptoms can take up to 21 days to express themselves. Fort Jackson has been screening Soldiers in Initial Entry Training since Oct. 3. During that period, the screenings have not detected anyone carrying the Ebola virus.
To help identify possible Ebola incidents are early as possible, leadership was issued cards detailing common symptoms of the virus and what action should be taken. Soldiers who have traveled to West Africa or have had close contact with a person infected with Ebola in the past 21 days will be asked if they are exhibiting the following symptoms: fever, headache, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain or bleeding.
"If a Soldier comes before a drill sergeant or cadre member and says, 'I'm not feeling well and I meet all these requirements,' (The drill sergeant's) first move is to separate that Soldier from all contact with other Soldiers and individuals," said MACH Command Sgt. Major Timothy Sloan. A team made up of a physician, two medics and a nurse would then be immediately dispatched to fully assess the situation.
"All you have to do is separate," Sloan said. "You don't even have to isolate; we're going to do that if it's a positive response. If there's any doubt whatsoever, let (the team) make the call."
Related Links:
U.S. Army news, information about Army's response to Ebola threat
Social Sharing