Starting Monday, October 27, 2014 travelers to the United States from Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone had to report daily to state and local health officials for potential symptoms of Ebola. Five airport including local Dulles have been flagged for monitoring all visitors from these West African countries. According to the New York Times, ?each visitor will be given a packet with a thermometer, instructions on its use, a card describing Ebola symptoms, and a card to be given to a doctor or nurse if the visitor develops symptoms and is ordered to go to an emergency room or other health care facility.?
In an October 22 conference call for faith based organizations, a staff physician from the CDC?s Office of Infectious Diseases, Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infections, Dr Scott Santibanez and Dr. Abdul R Shaikh, a population health scientist on the Board of Directors for the American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP), discussed the potential role of places of worship, community, and family in addressing Ebola concerns for those living in the US. Dr santadanias was a part of the response team in Dallas where the first case of Ebola was discovered in the USA, spoke to faith leaders, journalists, social workers and community organizers about his work with the local community in Dallas, mainly answering questions about the disease and using local resources to help affected families. Faith based organizations can do a great deal.
He suggested way that that there are a lot of important things that community leaders and religious leaders can do to help? one was to dispel fear with facts and helping decrease stigma about the disease. He shared that many people of West African background were stigmatized. One man who was in contact with the Ebola patient was afraid to leave apartment becuase he recieved threats from neighbors. ?To address stigma that we need to be compassionate,? he said.
Faith and Community-Based Organizations can help educate people to decrease fear and stigma. For example, in Dallas, community and religious leaders worked together to speak out against stigmatization and to promote compassion for the families of those diagnosed with Ebola and for those in quarantine.
Many people need to stay at home to be monitored and they had difficulty going out to go get food etc., so the CDC team relied on local food banks in Dallas.Faith communities can make sure the basic needs of those who may have to stay at home in quarantine are met. Dr Santibanez urged community members to get involved with local charitable efforts as they are valuable partners and help build community resilence.
Instead of panicking and fearmongering, congregations can model good infection control, know proper hand-washing techniques and keep healthy habits, to include, but not limited to, keeping immunizations current, proper rest, exercise, and nutrition.
Dr Shaikh suggested that knowing and sharing resources such as helplines and websites helps decrease fear.
Dr Shaikh of Virginia said that AMHP is in contact with many Muslim congregations and in response to a question said that because many West Africans practice the Islamic faith, networking with other organizations from the region will help in coordinating efforts.
So far there have been 9 cases of Ebola in the United States, the latest being in New York City. All but one of the U.S. Ebola patients has recovered, or is on the path to recovery, officials say.
Ebola is very rare and there is very little possibility of the general public contracting Ebola. Some facts to know include: A person with the Ebola virus must show symptoms to spread the disease. If they don't have symptoms, they aren't contagious; Ebola does not spread through the air. Ebola is spread through direct contact with blood or body fluids (urine, feces, blood) of a person who is sick with Ebola; and you cannot get Ebola simply by being in the same neighborhood or area as someone with Ebola.
You may also contact CDC at 800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) any time with questions about Ebola or other health questions.